Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

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Halloween Reviews 2020

Director: Tim Burton

Screenplay: John Logan, musical by Hugh Wheeler, musical adaptation by Christopher Bond

Stars: Johnny Depp, Helena Carter Bonham, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jamie Campbell Bower

Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp), a barber embittered by the destruction of his family and his own unjust imprisonment, returns to London filled with bloodlust and anger, thirsting for revenge against the man responsible for his family's downfall (Alan Rickman). 

While waiting for his big chance, he slaughters scores of customers, who are then recycled into meat pies served by Todd's accomplice and would-be lover, Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter). 

Once again, director Tim Burton has found a fitting subject for his unique sensibility. 

Tim Burton

His London is a dark, creepy warren of twisting back alleys and dank sewers. 

He does not compromise the basic savagery of this story, presenting a musical that features more blood than most slasher films. 

The reprehensible nature of most of the characters is not prettied up for the screen; each of them is taken to their logical extreme and meets a richly deserved fate. 

I haven't seen the show as presented on stage, so I can't comment on how it compares to this compressed version, but I found the film to be quite satisfying in its own right (with the exception of one "surprise" that I saw coming from a mile away). 

The actors, who are not noted for their singing ability, acquit themselves well with Stephen Sondheim's excellent score.


Warning! Ending scene!

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