Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

When I first heard that Tim Burton and muse, Johnny Deep were teaming up for a musical number called Sweeney Todd, I Netflixed everything I could- then Googled. Unfamiliar with the butchering barber, I didn't know what to expect. After viewing the 2006 BBC production I was intrigued. The BBC production starred Ray Winstone and was both shocking and deliciously demented. Burton and Depp were the perfect team to tackle such a morbid story.

Where to begin...

Benjamin Barker (Depp) was a young barber with a beautiful young wife and little girl who had the world at hand. When Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) falls for Barker's wife and she refuses him, Turpin has Barker imprisoned. Years later, Sweeney Todd (Depp) emerges. Returning to London in a murderous rage, Todd is determined to seek his revenge. First up, Judge Turpin.

Todd returns to Fleet Street and discovers Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) and her meat pies inhabit his former residence. After a brief introduction (and song) Mrs. Lovett allows Todd to engage her upper apartment as his shop- fully aware of his intention.

Todd hones his razor with each customer. Barber/swindler Signor Adolfo Pirelli (Sacha Baron Cohen) becomes Todd's first victim. Pirelli shouldn't have threatened him. What to do with the body?! Aw, Mrs. Lovett! The price of meat is indeed rising and it would be such a waste. After another delicious song and dance, in goes Pirelli.

With the help of Mrs. Lovett, Todd is freed to murder at will and before long, a murderous shave is old hat and Mrs. Lovett's meat pies are sought after by all of London.

Dare I say it? Burton and Depp have done it again. While I could cop-out and say it's another wonderfully macabre production in the vein of Edward Scissorhands, but that would be wrong. This, my friends, is a masterpiece of American theatre!

Director Tim Burton walks the fine line of humor and wickedness. From the moment the film opens with rain drops turning to blood that winds its way down to the sewers of London, Sweeney Todd captivates. London is a dark cesspool of social classes-- dark, Gothic, and unfeeling. Burton creates a world that feels fresh, yet eerie and disturbing and then Johnny Depp steps in.

From first glance, Depp is his evil best as Sweeney Todd. Gone are the sparking rogue eyes of Capt. Jack. In their place are soulless, demented eyes and a broken soul. At first note, this viewer was entranced. Depp's voice is not perfect, but rather solid and delightfully intoxicating. Depp brings an amazing complexity to his character that is enthralling.

Helena Bonham Carter's Mrs. Lovett is the perfect colorful foil to Depp's darker Todd. She is given perhaps the most difficult of tasks- to imbue bits of humor, no matter how dark, in this demented tail. She does so wonderfully. It's almost as if, Mrs. Lovett keeps dear Mr. T sane. Or sane-er, perhaps. Much like Depp, Bonham Carter's voice is spot-on.

The supporting cast of Alan Rickman {that was a surprise}, Timothy Spall {Peter Pettigrew of Harry Potter films}, Baron Cohen, Jamie Campbell Bower and Ed Sanders all sing with conviction and fit well within Burton's world.

The production is stunning. There is a seamless blend of CGI and live action. Burton seems to know just how far to push his victims, er, audience. In Sweeney Todd, he pushes a bit further. This is NOT a family film. It's nightmarishly graphic. Bloody squishes and squirts. Todd's razor is sparkles as is slices through his patron's throat. Slinging the straight blade and with a deft flick of the wrist, blood lays across Todd's face. His eyes gleaming beneath it all. Demented indeed. With a touch of the foot, the now deceased patron slides into Mrs. Lovett's kitchen- bashing the head in for good measure. The camera holds long enough to tumble your stomach and tingle your spine.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the costuming and set dressings. The devil is in the details. Depp's tailored suiting, crisp white shirting and worn boots are brilliant. He stands so authoritarian among the derelict shop. Mrs. Lovett is given a 'crazy-cat lady' look of the Victorian Era. Everything is dark and beautiful.

The music of Stephen Sondheim is tantalizing and chilling from the first notes. The cast does it more than justice. To deem Sweeney Todd a 'musical' does it a disservice; this is far cry from your mother's Sound of Music.

One of Burton's most appealing qualities for me has always been his lack of regard for what 'they say'. Sweeney Todd is hardly a laughing matter, but I found myself desparating trying to muffle my own laughter. Serial killings aren't funny, but this film is. It's Mrs. Lovett's reply. Or Mr. T's glance.

So who should see this? Sweeney Todd will most assuredly become classic among Burton and Depp's most ardent fans. If you're idea of a musical is Oklahoma, stay home. Kill Bill fans would appreciate the blood. Broadway fans would appreciate the stylings. General movie-goers should best avoid it.

Dazzlingly disturbing and gloriously grotesque, embrace you own demented side and you will enjoy Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street to its fullest.