Now for another version of ‘Sleepy Hollow’ that I like, after the fantastic Disney version back in 1949. This time done by gothic-horror master Tim Burton.
Released before the Millennium, Tim Burton’s version of ‘Sleepy Hollow’ is a deliciously gothic version of Washington Irving’s short story told in true Tim Burton style.
The story starts off in 1799 after a man and his son are brutally murdered in a small town called Sleepy Hollow. Wanting to prove that his “modern” scientific methods for police work aren’t a complete waste of time, police constable Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is sent to solve the murders.
The murders aren’t the first two; Sleepy Hollow has been plagued by the same kind of murders for quite some time. In all cases the heads were “cut clean off”.
In a meeting with the town’s elders to find out what has previously happened Ichabod learns that the main suspect is a Headless Horseman. Unlike book-version of Ichabod this version isn’t superstitious and he laughs at the idea of a dead man coming back to claim heads.
Baltus Van Tassel (Michael Gambon) and the rest of the elders don’t laugh. They are rather grim. “You’re a long way from New York constable” says Baltus grimly.
Ichabod is soon boarding in the Van Tassel’s home where he shortly meets Katrina (Christina Ricci), Baltus’ daughter and is immediately taken with her. It isn’t before long when another headless dead body turns up; that of Johnathon Masbath. Ichabod takes pity with the man’s now orphaned son and soon takes him under his wing.
As usual with a lot of Tim Burton’s films back then this was met with a lot of praise from both critics and audiences. I also really enjoyed it as well when I was old enough to watch it. The soundtrack from Tim Burton veteran Danny Elfman is one of Danny’s most underrated soundtracks too and was a joy to listen to when I heard it live several years ago.
There are even some homages to the Disney version of ‘Sleepy Hollow’ such as Ichabod racing across the bridge to get away from the Headless Horseman at one point in the film (a scene that I recognized instantly on my first viewing).
Over all if you like a good gothic-horror film or want to watch something gothicy for Halloween, ‘Sleepy Hollow’ is the one to watch.
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