FILM 21 (31 Films of Horror) 2.0

FILM 21

FILM: Sleepy Hollow

PREMISE: The classic story of "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow" is brought to life by the gothic film maker Tim Burton. Johnny Depp plays Ichabod Crane, and to win the heart of Katrina Van Tassel (Christina Ricci) he will have to brave the nearby woods, even though several decapitated bodies have been found. And then the legend of the axe wielding headless horsemen come together to make this movie. Written by Chris Barker

In the early United States of America, young policeman Ichabod Crane is sent to from New York to the fledgling settlement of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of ghoulish murders. On his arrival, the town council informs him that the three victims were killed in open ground, and the heads had disappeared - taken by a headless ghost that is supposedly responsible. Ichabod is unconvinced of this, but learns more about the ghostly horseman - it is the ghost of a Hessian sent by the British during the revolutionary war, and he was caught by redcoats and decapitated with his own sword. When Ichabod sees the ghost kill one of the town council members, his skepticism evaporates - and he soon discovers that the horseman's ghost has an unholy connection to Balthus Van Tassel, a wealthy farmer - and whose daughter Ichabod is falling in love with...

REVIEW: I was always a big fan of Disney's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. That cartoon always scared the crap out of me. Now mind you this film did not scare me but I sure did love it. Just amazing direction from Tim Burton and the cast looked like they had a good time making this. Johnny Depp as usual was great. This was before he blew up from those overrated Pirate movies. (even though the first Pirates is one of my all time favorite movies. I loathed 2 and 3.) This film felt like the Hammer films of old. Just a great spooky time had by all and a great film to watch before Halloween. I give this an 8 out of 10.