Sleepy Hollow (1999) – Review

Tim Burton has long been known for his unique and quirky style of filmmaking – he could trademark spindly trees – so it was a natural choice for him to direct a Gothic horror film that was inspired by Washington Irving’s classic short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” This resulted in a unique and macabre showcase for Burton’s unparalleled talent in crafting eerie and enchanting worlds.

Prior to the release of this film the most notable adaptation of Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” would have been Walt Disney’s animated anthology film The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, which was a fairly faithful retelling of the original tale, but with Tim Burton at the helm you know the story of a headless horsemen is going to ride off in an even more horrifying direction. While set in the same era as the Washington Irving story, Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow follows the adventures of Constable Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) a forensic investigator with a penchant for modern scientific methods, which makes him a fish out of water when he is sent to investigate a series of brutal decapitations in the superstitious and rustic village of Sleepy Hollow.

Law & Order: Supernatural Victims Unit.

Upon arriving in Sleepy Hollow, Ichabod Crane has a “meet cute” with the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel (Cristina Ricci), daughter of Baltus Van Tassel (Michael Gambon) who is a wealthy businessman and one of the town’s leaders.  It is from him and the town elders that Ichabod learns that the locals believe the killer to be the undead apparition of a headless Hessian mercenary (Christopher Walken) from the Revolutionary War, who now rides at nightfall on a black steed in search of his missing head. Needless to say, the scientific-minded Ichabod does not believe a ghost is behind these murders, stating “The assassin is a man of flesh and blood and I will discover him.” As in the original tale, Ichabod will have a conflict with Brom Van Brunt (Casper Van Dien), a strapping suitor for Katrina’s hand who “pranks” Ichabod by dressing up as the Headless Horseman. However, Ichabod’s skepticism of the paranormal is shaken when he has a “face-to-face” encounter with the murdering spectre in all its supernatural glory.

Even Dana Scully would have a hard time explaining this away.

The film’s plot is a clever and engaging re-imagining of Irving’s tale, with Ichabod Crane becoming entangled in a web of dark secrets, haunted forests and restless spirits. The story unfolds like a chilling mystery, keeping us guessing until the very end. It’s a captivating blend of suspense, horror and dark comedy, which is a hallmark of Burton’s storytelling. As the story unfolds, Tim Burton and screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker were able to harness the Gothic aesthetic of the Classic Universal Horror Movies while also utilizing Burton’s love of the gory Hammer horror films of the 50s and 60s – we get a lot of bright blood spurts in this film, not to mention all the violent beheading – and when the mystery behind these deaths, which Ichabod had rightfully deduced were humanly motivated and that someone had stolen the skull of the Horseman and now controls the ghostly revenant to do their ghastly business. Turns out that Katrina’s stepmother (Miranda Richardson) married Baltus as part of a long plot against those who had ruined her family, and through blackmail and murder she plans to get all the riches she deserves.

So I Married an Axe Murderer.

Stray Observations:

• In the opening scene we see a spooky-looking scarecrow with a jack-o’-lantern head which could be considered a nod to Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas as it gives off big Jack Skellington vibes.
• Historically speaking, Ichabod Crane was a very unattractive man while Johnny Depp is decidedly not so. Apparently, Depp was willing to wear prosthetics but Burton wanted to explore Crane’s unattractive personality traits rather than physical ones. I’m sure Depp’s admirers would agree that was a wise choice.
• Ichabod Crane performed autopsies on cadavers that spurted blood, but when a person dies all the blood inside the body quickly coagulates and thus no spurting.
• As Ichabod traverses the covered bridge, we hear the frogs seemingly croak the name “Ichabod” which is a nice nod to the Disney animated version.
• Tim Burton’s adaptation has another Disney connection, of a sort, as the villain turns out to be none other than the Evil Stepmother.
• In David Cronenberg’s adaption of The Dead Zone, Christopher Walken portrayed a teacher who assigned his class to read “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

You certainly don’t want detention from this guy.

Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow is a visual tour de force that plunges audiences into a nightmarish world of dark forests, haunted legends and gruesome decapitations. Set against the backdrop of a fog-draped 18th-century New York, this film masterfully combines Burton’s signature quirky charm with a distinct brand of macabre horror while also taking the classic tale in a dark and interesting direction. In the original story, Ichabod Crane was a deeply superstitious man while in this re-imagining we have an Ichabod Crane who is all about the scientific method, that he constantly faints throughout the film is one of the few character traits that is carried over from the book to the screen. For this incarnation of Ichabod Crane, Tim Burton adopted the basic plot of a Mario Bava movie, which often had a skeptical investigator placing his faith in science and reason only to have his skepticism of the supernatural forcibly broken down by truly paranormal events.

“Alas, poor Horseman, I knew him well.”

Depp’s portrayal of the neurotic and intellectual Crane is a triumph, as he seamlessly blends vulnerability and determination, making the character both endearing and relatable. The supporting cast is equally impressive. Christina Ricci delivers a strong performance as Katrina Van Tassel, the enigmatic woman at the centre of the mystery, and her chemistry with Depp is palpable, adding depth to their characters’ relationship.  Michael Gambon and Miranda Richardson both shine in their respective roles, contributing to the film’s rich tapestry of characters, but the one question I had while watching this film, casting Ray Park to provide great physical fighting skill of the Headless Horseman was perfect but “Why would you cast Christopher Walken in a non-speaking role?“  I know being headless does tend to limit one’s vocabulary but how about a flashback scene giving the origin of this Hessian mercenary? That said, what holds this plot together is the relationship that builds between the skeptical Ichabod, who has his own tragic past to come to grips with, and the beautiful Katrina who bewitches his heart.

A Gothic Fairy Tale Romance.

As mentioned, what truly sets Sleepy Hollow apart from other Gothic horror movies is its visual style and Tim Burton’s signature aesthetic is on full display here, with the film being bathed in a hauntingly beautiful palette of blacks, greys and vivid blood-reds. The meticulously crafted sets, intricate costumes, and masterful use of practical effects create a surreal and immersive world that feels both dreamlike and nightmarish. The beheadings, though gruesome, are executed with a darkly poetic flair that adds to the film’s macabre charm and the production design and cinematography are nothing short of breathtaking, with the eerie, fog-drenched landscapes of Sleepy Hollow and its foreboding surrounding forests being meticulously crafted, transporting viewers into a world of palpable dread. The colour palette, dominated by muted tones and stark contrasts, adds to the film’s gloomy atmosphere.

This is not an ideal picnic setting.

All of these dark and brooding visuals are wonderfully aided by composer Danny Elfman’s haunting musical score as it is a perfect companion to the film’s visuals, enhancing the eerie atmosphere and heightening the tension in every scene. It’s a testament to Elfman’s ability to capture the essence of Burton’s visuals and elevate them to another level. Tim Burton’s collaboration with Elfman once again prove to be a match made in cinematic heaven. This haunting score infuses the film with an eerie beauty that lingers long after the credits roll and it perfectly complements the dark, Gothic aesthetic of Sleepy Hollow and heightens the tension in key moments. The film does detour into true Tim Burton territory when Ichabod Crane and his assistant Young Masbath (Marc Pickering) venture into the dark woods to find the Horseman’s burial site, where they have a decidedly strange encounter that adds a new level of paranormal in this soup of horror.

“Tell them, Large Marge sent you.”

Unlike the Disney animated classic, Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow is not for the faint of heart, it revels in its gore and Gothic sensibilities. However, beneath its surface, it weaves a tale of fear, love and redemption, all while embracing the dark and otherworldly. Burton’s unique vision and Johnny Depp’s standout performance make this film a timeless classic that remains a must-see for fans of both horror and Burton’s distinctive style. It is a visually captivating and narratively compelling work of art that showcases Tim Burton’s dark genius, one that leaves you bewitched by its eerie charm and haunted by its enchanting nightmares.