Depp, not Disney (and Burton)

Rating: 6/10 (19 September 2004)

Based very loosely on the literary legend and set in 1799 New York, Ichabod Crane goes searching for a serial murderer who beheads his victims and is said to be a Headless Horseman who himself has no head. Johnny Depp is as usual well cast for this quirky role and there is good support from less well known actors (although the Headless Horseman is played by Christopher Walken. Interestingly, he looks a little like Depp). But this Tim Burton rendition tries to be very complex in plot and character with unusual and original spins, yet ultimately fails to deliver. The brave Ichabod inexplicably has certain phobias which do not play consistently and a troubled past that we can only guess about from his surrealistic dreams. The love interest is rushed - we wonder where Depp's character gets his passion. In a Showtime post-interview he talked about how he based Ichabod Crane on several characters from the classics and horror films of old. That comes through but finally fails in integration as does Burton's convoluted story. Effects and entertainment are there, but we are hoping for something more and we don't get it.