Tim Burton's highly original dark vision

Rating: 10/10 (3 February 2008)

Set in the darkest pit that is London, Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd is a dark Gothic and extremely gory masterpiece. He mixes the violence of Sweeney's acts with the darkest humour and shows that horror movies don't have to be about screaming teenagers. The cast are excellent and Tim Burton has excelled at finding some of the best there is. Look out for the cameos and see if you can spot Anthony Head. Johnny Depp's performance is outstanding (I never knew he could sing) and he works very well with Helena Bonham Carter whom I have always admired as an actress. The film seems to have been colour bleached as it is presented in beautifully dark tones of grey and black with the redness of the blood being the main accent throughout. It is a tragic tale of woe and revenge set at a time that seems to be but a distant memory now. The songs are excellent, the score is beautiful and Mr Burton's vision of London is breathtakingly displayed. A must-see film but please don't take your children. the film is extremely gory and has subtle sexual overtones at times bordering on the disturbing.