Sleepy Hollow Reviews

As I like Tim Burton, and I am fond of the timeless story, I was eager to see what this 1999 film was like. I also grew up on the Disney classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the Headless Horseman creeped me out so badly when I was little I thought I would never see the day when I would see that topped. Now after seeing this I think I just have. The Headless Horseman is terrifying here, Christopher Walken does a phenomenal job playing him. I do agree that the story does drag on occasions, but plenty makes up for that minor fault. Visually, Sleepy Hollow is amazing, like Batman Returns and Edward Scissorhands, the sets and cinematography are dark and Gothic, and the special effects are wonderful. Also Tim Burton I think was the perfect choice for director, he is oddball and eccentric and that directorial style is perfect for this film allowing him to give a clever, unique and atmospheric take on the story. The music score by none other than maestro Danny Elfman is dark, suspenseful and haunting, like it should be. The story is a true timeless tale of horror, and really well structured here, as is the nuanced script. The performances are excellent once again, with Johnny Depp absolutely brilliant as the maverick yet intuitive Ichabod Crane and Christina Ricci fine in a poignant sort of way as the lovely Katerina. Solidly supporting them all the way are Michael Gambon, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gough, Jeffrey Jones, Ian McDiarmid and Richard Griffiths. And of course the film is full of cruel shocks and thrills, the murder scenes are shocking and violent but not in the sense that you have to look away. Overall, very unique and beautiful take on the tale. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Aaaahhhh..... The good old days... When Johnny Depp was still considered a box-office poison and when Tim Burton was still one of the most creative directors in Hollywood. In fact, this movie is a perfect example of what I like and I don't like with Tim Burton's work. Indeed, on one hand, it looked completely gorgeous and they really managed to create a great immersive world. Furthermore, Johnny Depp gave a pretty good performance as well as a really goofy detective. However, on the other hand, I was not so sure about the story. I mean, it was entertaining but depending on my mood, I find it really fascinating or just ... entertaining but not much more than that. Still, if you watch it after all those underwhelming productions involving Burton and Depp, it is probably one of their best movies after all. On top of that, Christopher Walken was a perfect choice and the guy was totally awesome as the headless horseman. Finally, it is such a shame that Christina Ricci became so skinny because she never looked more charming than back in those days. To conclude, even though it might not be a masterpiece, it remains a pretty good flick and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you are interested in Tim Burton's work.

Everyone knows the classic story of the Headless Horseman and they've seen the Disney cartoon and read the story so there's not much to go over here.

But for those who don't or haven't watched it...allow me to explain everything that goes on.

This dark masterpiece stars Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane, a detective who is called over to the town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of murders which all involving beheading.

This is directed by Tim Burton who has made various other movies that i've loved including Beetlejuice.

I think Depp does a wonderful job of portraying the character, making him cowardly but also very intelligent and noble at times as well.

Starring alongside him is Christina Ricci, who also portrayed Wednesday in The Addams Family. I have to say she is very elegant and enchanting as Katrina.

Lady Van Tassell is portrayed by Miranda Richardson, who if you're a fan of British comedy - you might know as Queenie in Blackadder II. She does a very wonderful job of being witchy and psychotic in this.

Also there is a returning appearance by Jefrey Jones, who appeared previously in Ed Wood and Beetlejuice.

For fans of Harry Potter, there is definitely a notable appearance by one of the three actors who portrayed Dumbledore in the movies based off the books - Michael Gambon.

If you're a Star Wars fan like I am, you would be very esctastic that there are 3 Sith Lord actors in this movie....the first is Christopher Lee ("Darth Tyranus/Count Dooku", or if you're a LOTR fan "Saruman") the second is Ian McDermid ("Palpatine") and the third is Ray Park ("Darth Maul", my second favorite sith lord.)

Of course you can't have a horror movie without a monster and oh boy are you in for a treat. Our Headless Horseman here has the honor of being portrayed by two different people.

For scenes that have him in headless form he is played by Ray Park who I mentioned earlier...and for scenes that have him with his head on like flashbacks...he is played by Christopher Walken.

Which in my opinion makes this his best performance ever! And the reason I became the obsessed fan in the first place.

This is a very interesting Walken role for many reasons...the first of being that this one of the first few movies in which Walken has a kissing scene, and the second being that this is a role where Walken doesn't speak.

In fact...the majority of his lines are like this....*he clears his throat*...."AAAAAAAAAAAAAWR! RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWR GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Yep..he growls like a savage werecreature in this movie and it's trucking awesome! The fact the entire movie is a homage to Hammer Horror movies is awesome in itself...but upon hearing that Walken based the Hessian on Lon Chaney Jr as the Wolfman? That is double awesome!

The Hessian is a mercenary that was sent by the British..but unlike most who came for money related purposes....he kills strictly because...well....he is bloodthirsty...he LOVES gore and violence and especially blood.

But I don't really think the Hessian is evil. I actually think he's a misunderstood soul. I felt sorry for him. All he wanted was his head back....but Lady Van Tassell used him and controlled him. *sobs* Why?

This movie is chock full of thrills and scares as well as a bit of dark humour as well. Not to mention the acting is top notch and so are the costumes, sets, music and special effects.

Being that this is a horror movie there are a LOT of killings, violence, gore, and blood.


Anyway...I loved Sleepy Hollow and everything about it was amazing..and awesome, I heavily reccomend this movie if you are a fan of horror movies, Tim Burton, Johnny Depp or Christopher Walken.

this great fantasy horror movie from Tim Burton is one of his best it's scary, funny, mysterious & sexy. Johnny Depp is a real burlesque clown in this one and Christina Ricci is so beautiful in her unusual blonde hair plus the villains played by Miranda Richardson as Lady Van Tassel and Christopher Walken as the hessian horseman are wicked and creepy as well in this excellent film.
My Rating : 3.0=Magnificent - My Pleasure Meter : 4.0/5.0 Stars

Beautiful, atmospheric cinematography. This is a true Tim Burton film, and an awesome gothic mystery.

fun facts of Sleepy Hollow

In the original story Ichabod ( Johnny Depp 's character ) is a quirky teacher. The film is a handsome detective equipped with gadgets invented by himself

Johnny Deep , to give life to the character of Ichabod Crane, was inspired by two characters played by two actors :

Peter Vincent in Fright Night (1985 ) , played by Roddy McDowall , and Sherlock Holmes in the series of films between 1942 and 1946 , starring Basil Rathbone.

The character that appears at the beginning of the film, which travels in the carriage haunted by Headless Horseman ¨ ¨ , Peter Van Garrett, is the actor Martin Landau. Not credited in the movie goes .

the tree of the dead that appears halfway through the film reappears in the latest Tim Burton : Alice in Wonderland.

When Tim Burton discovered that credit in the titles of your movie appeared Francis Ford Coppola as executive producer was greatly surprised and upset because I ignored the situation completely ! We can say that there were up to 8 producers, executive producers, co-producers and producers of truth !

The black rider is C.Walken , although risk sequences were interpreted by Ray Park, Darth Moul ¨ I ¨ episode .

Jeffrey Jones previously worked with Burton in Beetlejuice and Ed Wood.

Good performances, appropriate soundtrack, dingy and well done special effects, a great and gloomy atmosphere with winding village surrounded by mist-shrouded forests, bleak a picture that creates an enveloping atmosphere and sinister ... yes, here we have all the ingredients and the signature of good Tim Burton movies, so it will not disappoint its fans, as well as having a history as interesting and tasty pint (the attack of a mysterious Headless Horseman) for all one who does not know how to work the manager and his team.

The story he tells is really good, but I got the feeling there was darned things wrong, as if to extend the film with poor structuring of some scenes. For example, childhood trauma that haunts the protagonist in her nightmares is out of place, although the form of Irlo breakdown creates curiosity. The love story that is also intended to address surface, narrating it as something that was to occur but without delving.

A noteworthy aspect is how the protagonist focuses the murders, as initially posed as something mysterious, but made ​​by real people ... then lead to an interesting story from beyond the grave. Then the script starts to squirm and become bewildering, so that no one knows who is behind it all.

This may seem a little far-fetched, but not a problem to fiends suspense and things that look like what they are not ... I personally lost a bit with Dutch names of the characters, repeating some scenes but I was satisfied, enjoying the film more.

The year is 1799 and ''the millennium is almost upon us,'' according to the newly dashing Ichabod Crane played by Johnny Depp in Tim Burton's enthusiastically bleak new movie. And speaking of dashing, when Ichabod gallops north from New York City, he rides up the west bank of the Hudson River although the village of Sleepy Hollow is on the east. But an ornate visual fantasy of Mr. Burton's can be expected to make its own rules, and ''Sleepy Hollow'' does that with macabre gusto. His idea of a beautiful day may be somebody else's nuclear winter, but Mr. Burton eagerly brings his visions of sugarplums to the screen.

So when it comes to appearances, this dark, shivery ''Sleepy Hollow'' manages to be as distinctively Burtonesque as ''Edward Scissorhands'' or ''Batman.'' Offering a serenely unrecognizable take on Washington Irving's story and its famously unlucky schoolteacher, the film brings its huge reserves of creativity to bear upon matters like the severing of heads. Quaint Dutch burghers of the Hudson Valley could have bowled ninepins throughout Rip Van Winkle's sleep-in with the supply of decapitated heads sent flying here, even if Mr. Burton handles such sequences with his own brand of wit. Shot 1: Sword approaches victim. Shot 2: Blood splashes Ichabod's glasses. Shot 3: Head rolls away. Shot 4: Body pitches forward. Pause for laugh.

History will recognize the rich imagination and secret tenderness of Mr. Burton's best films. (From a purely technical standpoint, as in the award-ready cinematography of Emmanuel Lubezki, this grimly voluptuous ''Sleepy Hollow'' must be one of them.) But it will also raise the question of what we were smoking during this period of infatuation with grisliness on screen. It is not unreasonable to admire Mr. Burton immensely without wanting to peer at the exposed brain stems of his characters, but ''Sleepy Hollow'' leaves no choice. As written by Andrew Kevin Walker, who took off Gwyneth Paltrow's head in ''Seven'' and apparently considered that small potatoes, ''Sleepy Hollow'' turns the tale of the Headless Horseman into the pre-tabloid story of a rampaging serial killer.

There are reasons to be troubled by this, and they aren't about squeamishness. Mr. Walker's credits also include ''Fight Club,'' a genuinely daring effort to make sense of the violent impulses of buttoned-down young men, and to plumb those dangers found at the nexus of popular culture and political fanaticism. That, at least, had the hallmarks of something different, and it involved a much lower body count than the one racked up by the Headless Horseman. But ''Sleepy Hollow,'' in the guise of an exotic fable and horror-film homage, offers little such ballast. For all its visual cleverness, it's much more conventionally conceived than Mr. Burton's admirers would expect.

Even birds nesting in one of the film's vast, wintry indoor sets found themselves trying to get away, moving into the only blossom-filled backdrop that ''Sleepy Hollow'' uses (for brief fantasy scenes). But the bulk of the film unfolds in a forbidding, fairy-tale village and forest that are as ambitious as the Gotham City of ''Batman.'' It is here that Ichabod, who now has a faintly English accent and Mr. Depp's playful charisma, is sent to solve a series of murders and to find that everyone in Sleepy Hollow looks mildly suspect. It is also here that he learns of the vengeful headless Hessian (Christopher Walken in redundant fright makeup) who is the town's main tourist attraction.

Using a color palette more often associated with stories of the gulag, ''Sleepy Hollow'' creates a landscape so daunting that even a large tree bleeds. At moments like the one revealing the tree's bloody secret, and in a couple of incidents involving witchcraft, Mr. Burton's film delivers a scare or two, but most of it is too tongue in cheek for that. As this film's Ichabod conducts a Holmesian murder investigation and even unearths a village conspiracy, he has much better luck with Katrina Van Tassel than any traditional Ichabod ever did. Katrina is played photogenically by Christina Ricci, who gets through the film gamely while remaining very much a sardonic creature of her own time.

An impressive cast shows off Colleen Atwood's sumptuous costumes and delivers dialogue, some apparently worked on by Tom Stoppard, sometimes graced with a clever edge. Miranda Richardson swishes dangerously through the proceedings as Katrina's obviously wicked stepmother, while the town elders include Michael Gough, Michael Gambon and Jeffrey Jones. The horror patriarch Christopher Lee is here, as well he ought to be. And Marc Pickering plays the teenage sidekick whom Ichabod cautions, as he might the audience, with ''I hope you have a strong stomach.''

Among the many scenes of cheeky mayhem, one finds a little boy cowering beneath floorboards while the Horseman harvests the heads of his parents. In case you were thinking of taking the children.
NYT

Before Sweeney Todd was released, Sleepy Hollow was the darkest Tim Burton film. Sleepy Hollow is a film that does look like a horror film but way I see it, it's just a fantasy thriller. A bit like what I could call I Am Legend as well. It is very action-packed but in a more horror-thriller sort of way. Sleepy Hollow is to me one of the most fun films ever despite it's very dark story. It is adapted from a novel that is rather scary, dark and mysterious. There was an animated film about Sleepy Hollow and that one was scarier than the live action adaptation. Sleepy Hollow is really tense because of what the Headless Horseman is capable of and who is going to be his next victim.


Ichabod Crane is Johnny Depp's most heroic character in a Tim Burton film. I loved Johnny's performance as Ichabod Crane because I really was interested in his character. His intentive technology was really cool, bizarre and creative. Ichabod has a past that comes back to haunt him during the Headless Horseman investigation. Christina Ricci was good and hot has Katrina Van Tassel. Michael Gambon was good as Baltus Van Tassel as well. This film has a lot of British actors and actresses in it including Michael Gambon, Miranda Richardson, Ian McDiarmid, Christopher Lee and Richard Griffiths.


Tim Burton has created a dark masterpiece as far as I'm concerned. Sleepy Hollow is the one Tim Burton film we have been waiting a long time for which makes it absolutely typical of Tim to direct a film like this. Because Ed Wood felt more like a comedy, Sleepy Hollow brought fantasy and more seriousness within his films.


Sleepy Hollow is my third favourite Tim Burton film after Sweeney Todd and Edward Scissorhands. It is also my fifth favourite Johnny Depp film after Sweeney Todd, Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl, Edward Scissorhands and Finding Neverland. It is my third favourite Depp-Burton collaboration too after Sweeney Todd and Edward Scissorhands. This is one of my favourite and one of the best films of 1999 which was a great year in cinema. Sleepy Hollow is a masterful mystery film in which not many films are. Sleepy Hollow is an amazing fantasy thriller that I could and have watched over and over again.

I finally saw it and I have no regrets, it was fully awesome. It wasn't exactly scary, but the setting and music gave it a spooky vibe which I loved.

The story is simple - A visiting investigator, Ichabod Crane [Johnny Depp] comes to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the murder of three people, who have all had their heads chopped off by the Headless Horseman [Christopher Walken]. But soon three turns to four, and before you know it everyone is in danger of being murdered. Ichabod soon discovers that the killings are not just at random, but being controlled by someone on the inside in exchange for the Horseman's head. Along the way of finding the clues of to who is also responsible, Ichabod begins to know a towns girl, Katrina [Christina Ricci] and when she is in danger things start to get a little more personal for Ichabod.
Though it aims to be spooky, it does have its funny scenes which Johnny is perfect for.

This is just more proof that Johnny Depp and Tim Burton make wonderful movies together, and that is why I love both of their movies.