Day 290: Sweeney Todd

After Planet of the Apes, I was a little angry with Tim Burton so it took some convincing to get me on board with Sweeney Todd. I'm glad I took a chance with it.

Sweeney Todd is another horror musical about the demon barber of Fleet Street. Johnny Depp plays Todd, a barber who is pushed just a little too far and resorts to killing his enemies as they sit in his chair. The real meat of the story, so to speak, is changed identities. Todd was formerly known as Benjamin Barker until a corrupt judge exiled him in order to get his wife and daughter for his own. Todd has now teamed up with Mrs. Lovett, a woman who owns a pie shop, and uses her to help him dispose of his various bodies. Meanwhile, there is a love subplot between Todd's assistant, Anthony, and Todd's daughter, Johanna. Will Todd get his vengeance on Judge Turpin? Will Johanna rot away in an insane asylum? Will Mrs. Lovett's meat pies become best sellers? Only one way to find out.

This was a very decent adaptation of a stage musical. Tim Burton gets more brutal than he ever has before to bring the horror to life. Lopping off heads in Sleepy Hollow is one thing but dropping bodies down trap doors and slitting throats is quite a bit darker. Depp brings depth and some charisma to the tricky role of Todd. We don't really want to pull for him to succeed in all his plans but he is the de facto protagonist. The music is actually well done and not a giant distraction. Helena Bonham Carter plays the unhinged Mrs. Lovett very well.

All in all, not sure how horrific this movie is but it is very well made and worth a watch. As with anything that includes musical theater, your mileage may vary.