Burton's return to form via Fleet Street

Rating: 10/10 (19 August 2015)

Combining Tim Burton with live action musical could have been a recipe for disaster (I'm still trying to forget the Oompa Loompas). But Stephen Sondheim's blood-drenched play proves unexpectedly ideal for Burton. Be warned, this is by far the most macabre and outright gory of his films. Even though it borrows the old Hammer aesthetic for its gory scenes (kind of like Sleepy Hollow), it would end up very disturbing, had it not been for the dry sense of black humor and the excellent choreography and orchestration. But the movie is not afraid to cross the line when it has to and the dramatic effect is then very powerful. Depp plays yet another in a long series of memorable Burtonic characters with ease and brio. The most delicious and rare meat-pie of the year.