Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street is not just grand; it’s a thrilling plunge into the Grand Guignol tradition, echoing the sensational stage horror that originated in early 20th century Paris. For this role, there’s no one more perfectly cast than the incredibly versatile Johnny Depp, who embodies the titular demon barber with a captivatingly dark charm.
From the opening bars of “No Place Like London,” it’s clear this isn’t a typical West End musical tour. Instead, we are transported to a London that’s seedy and menacing, a stark contrast to the romanticized images often portrayed. This is a world where danger lurks around every corner, a fitting backdrop for Steven Sondheim’s evocative lyrics. Sondheim masterfully crafts a narrative that revels in the amorality and gruesome throat-slitting world inhabited by Sweeney Todd and his accomplice, the pie-making Mrs. Nellie Lovett, played with wicked glee by Helena Bonham Carter. Their grim partnership thrives as Sweeney plots revenge against the corrupt Judge Turpin (portrayed with chilling authority by Alan Rickman), the man who unjustly exiled him, setting the stage for Todd’s bloody quest for vengeance.
Sweeney’s chilling lyrics encapsulate the film’s darkly murderous heart, a stark departure from the lightheartedness often associated with musicals: “Alright! You, Sir?/No one’s in the chair come on, come on/Sweeney’s waiting/I want you bleeders./You sir! Too sir?/Welcome to the grave./I will have vengeance./I will have salvation . . . .” This is classic Tim Burton territory, reminiscent of Sleepy Hollow and Corpse Bride, where blood erupts like vibrant red paint against the overwhelmingly somber, almost monochromatic palette of London’s underbelly. Even when a child bites into a pie and discovers a finger – an unsettling nod to modern-day lawsuits – the audience barely flinches, desensitized by the pervasive atmosphere of blood and death.
In a year filled with notable musicals, including the enchanting Once, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street stands out for its unsettling and unconventional nature. Burton excels in his signature style, expertly juxtaposing elements of horror with a strange, unsettling innocence. Ultimately, this rendition of Sweeney Todd is not just a musical; it’s a visceral experience, solidifying its place as a uniquely disturbing and unforgettable cinematic achievement.
