Sleepy Hollow

A nice gothic fairytale. The visuals are impressive, but the story falters a bit (final explanations by villains are something I really hate). (24/05/2008)

An ode to imagination and filmmaking style. Tim Burton has the gift of extraordinary style, which makes his films something otherworldly, teeming with imagination in every detail, in every color. Sleepy Hollow is without a doubt the most artistic horror I've had the pleasure of seeing, with immense visual care in every shot, and every shot has the magic that only real masters of imagination can do. You might argue that Sleepy Hollow is nothing more than a rather haunting story from the late 18th century, mixed with a decent detective story, but in my eyes there's much, much more. As in Burton's latest film, Big Fish, Burton's fascination with the world of rationality and imaginative dreaming and their eternal encounters is evident in Sleepy Hollow. Johnny Depp's Ichabod Crane is not just a cutely insecure character with the self-confident mask and grimaces of an actor from old horror films - he's another of Burton's characters who discovers that not everything is illuminated by rationality and irrationality is an integral part of our world, our lives. But why these analyses? Sleepy Hollow is a film with a perfect horror atmosphere and an irresistibly macabre sense of humor, candy for the eye and soul at the same time. A film that, unlike single-watch thrillers a la The Sixth Sense, does not lose the ever-bewitching magic of moving images. Vivat Buton! (13/04/2004)

A reworking of a legend in the guise of an atmospheric costume production. Excellent performances, visually gloomy in a Burton way, with a perfect soundtrack. After Ed Wood, it’s Burton’s best work. (31/01/2007)

A purely Burtonesque affair with the usual combination of family-fairytale atmosphere and haunting environment. Against the backdrop of Elfman's enchanting melodies, the viewer is treated to a proper dose of bat and human head chopping and the resulting great feeling of chills running down the spine, mixed with occasional light-hearted atmosphere in the foreground, featuring the excellent neurotic Depp. (22/04/2007)

Stylishly polished spectacle, from an artistic point of view perhaps the most interesting piece by Burton. Through the selection of props and sets, as well as the makeup of the actors and the lighting of the scenes, intentionally creates an almost theatrical atmosphere and pays homage to classic horror films from the 1930s. Brilliant Johnny Depp, devilishly repulsive Christopher Walken, and sweetly fragile Christina Ricci. The charming jokes shamelessly degrade my favorite rational enlightenment and pay tribute to the world of myths and fairy tales. Overall impression 95%. (07/05/2007)

Too cold and unattractive for me. The cinematography is excellent, the costumes are great, the atmosphere is properly dense, but it didn't work as it should. It's a shame Burton is a better storyteller than director. (20/10/2004)

Visually and musically, a breathtaking experience. Burton proves with every shot that in the 1990s there was no one who could adapt the mood of the scenes exclusively to the nature and colours of the environment so thoughtfully. Many of the scenes are absolutely brilliant and the thick atmosphere presses the viewer into their seat, the actors led by the then still likeable Depp, Gambon and the traditionally demonic Walken only accentuate everything good. It's just a pity that the film gradually fits more and more into the box of innocent fable, which by its deliberate expressiveness and self-awareness knocks the otherwise peculiar horror story down a notch from the highest filmmaking league. Still, there has probably never been a better made and more entertaining homage to the scary genre in Hollywood. 85% (19/07/2018)

Watching this movie again brought back some nostalgia, and I vividly recall how much it blew me away on the big screen two decades ago. Not that I didn't enjoy it today, but let's be real – the screen at home just doesn't do it justice. The film's got this awesome dark atmosphere, solid tension, and characters that are both well-written and a bit bizarre – classic Tim Burton just the way I like him. Plus, they nailed it with Christina Ricci in the lead female role. I mean, come on, if you've seen her as Wednesday Addams, you get why she's perfect for these parts. And hey, Miranda Richardson's there too, and I've been a fan for ages. So, despite any flaws, there are a lot of positives here for me. / Lesson learned: Don't lose your head. (27/07/2022)

Tim Burton's dreamlike and magical world at its best. Visual excellence backed by the traditionally great Depp and the gorgeous Christina Ricci. (01/11/2009)