kcw | reviews | dvd << Previous Page | Next Page >>
Year:   1999
Studio: Paramount Pictures/Mandalay Pictures
Movie:  4/5
DVD:    3/5

Teaser

New York Constable Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) and his eccentric "scientific methodology" to criminal investigations is sent to the remove village of Sleepy Hollow. Several townspeople have been murdered -- decapitated by The Headless Horseman. Crane is determined to find the real culprit (because in New York murders are not committed by ghosts and goblins) whilst his heart is drawn to the enigmatic Katrina Van Tassel (Christina Ricci), daughter of his prime suspect.

Movie

"Sleepy Hollow" is an atmospheric movie by Director Tim Burton, well known for visually oddball films like "Batman" (directed) and "James and the Giant Peach" (producer). In "Sleepy Hollow" we have a retelling of the classic horror short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", by Washington Irving.
This time Crane is the hero, though still a bit neurotic and timid. There is a Headless Horseman and we see how he was created. We also have a love interest in Katrina and a real mystery as to what is really going on. All in a dark and brooding atmosphere straight out of the 18th Century.

Actors

Johnny Depp is impressive as Ichabod Crane. He just gets the characterization down right. Christina Ricci is ok as Katrina. The rest of the cast is very good and the performances were all great.

DVD

There is a 30-minute "Behind the Legend" feature. An 11-minute segment with Cast and Crew interviews. A photo gallery and the theatrical trailers are also included. The documentary with Tim Burton is not good. Burton is very repetitive and is constantly making short comments about what's on the screen. So you get very little backstory or anecdotes or anything else.

Recommendations

It's a fairly good movie, a stylishly period horror piece.
Copyright (c) 2003 Kevin C. Wong
Page Created: December 1, 2003 Page Last Updated: December 1, 2003