Sleepy Hollow is a Gothic Interpretation of a Classic Ghost Story
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Sleepy Hollow stays true enough to the original tale while adding the dark intrigue that made Tim Burton famous.
Written by BHM Contributor Ronnie Angel
December 10, 2008
Release: November 19, 1999
Directed by: Tim Burton
Written by: Washington Irving (story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"), Kevin Yagher (screen story) and Andrew Kevin Walker (screen story) (screenplay)
Starring:
Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane
Christina Ricci as Katrina Van Tassel
Miranda Richardson as Lady Van Tassel/Crone
Michael Gambon as Baltus Van Tassel
Casper Van Dien as Brom Van Brunt
Jeffrey Jones as Reverend Steenwyck
Richard Griffiths as Magistrate Philipse
Ian McDiarmid as Doctor Lancaster
Christopher Walken as Hessian Horseman
I had a funny conversation with some friends recently where I asked "why does Johnny Depp always place pasty-faced weirdos in his movies?" to which the hilarious reply was... because he is a pasty faced weirdo!
How true that statement is, yet still, he is undeniably one of the best character actors of our time, playing the widest, most interesting variety of characters throughout his career. In Sleepy Hollow he really brings the classic character of Ichabod Crane to life, and many of the other fine characters actors in this ensemble cast bring their
characters to life in this film as well… but that is not the focal point of this review.
The thing about the latest retelling of the classic tale that really stands out is atmosphere. This film is chock full of atmosphere to the point where one can almost feel it. Foggy darkness fills the valley, stormy nights envelope the small country town and the dank woods are strewn with dead leaves. The entire experience of this film is dark and gothic in prime Tim Burton style.
The basics of 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow', written by Washington Irving, are familiar to most everyone, and the 1999 film rendition does not stray too far from the basics of the original storyline laid out years before. In this version Ichabod Crane is a 19th century criminal investigator sent to upstate New York, the town of Sleepy Hollow, to investigate some mysterious decapitations. When he arrives and begins to investigate the murders, he
starts to slowly unravel the tales of corruption, scandal and intrigue in the local townspeople and soon runs afoul of everybody’s favorite Headless Horseman (who is�given an awesome back-story and is played to perfection by Christopher Walken).
As the investigation continues societal-taboo lines are crossed, heads start to roll left and right and the story is reinvented completely. If you are expecting the traditional story to be portrayed without variation over the course of this film you may be caught off guard.
Sleepy Hollow is an imaginative retelling of a classic tale that runs like murder-mystery dinner theater wrapped around a classic ghost story.
The Headless Horseman character is given new life as an unstoppable killing machine in this rendition, although he may not be the real villain you expect in the end. Overall the cast in this Gothic tale is amazing, featuring veteran actors such as Christopher Lee,
Jeffrey Jones and of course everyone’s favorite cowbell- advocate Christopher Walkin. This is one of the better retellings of a classic horror story.
This film takes some liberties on the classic tale while still staying true to the basic premises of The Legend of the Headless Horseman. All of the elements of the film work together to create a solid movie experience as well as a strong ghost story, and for those reasons this one is a keeper. Questions or comments about Sleepy Hollow? Discuss it on The Ossuary Forums!
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