Tim Burton has created his iconic style through his use of colour, macabre images and his dark humour. Sleepy Hollow has all these things and more. However, where previous Tim Burton films were made great through striking images and colours, Sleepy Hollow is made great by its subtleness.
In terms of performance the film offers a chance to see Johnny Depp in a very different performance compared to, for example, Edward Scissorhands. Both performances are uniquely excellent but for different reasons. Sleepy Hollow allows the viewer to see the subtleness in Depp's performance as he is free from such distractions as scissor hands. No two Johnny Depp performances are the same and Sleepy Hollow is no exception. His movements, the signs of discomfort at the sight of blood and the emphasis he places on words highlight his remarkable acting ability in bringing a character to life. The film also features a fantastic collection of talented British actors such as Ian McDiarmid, Sir Micheal Gambon, Miranda Richardson and Micheal Gough, some of whom only feature in a few scenes but still create authentic, entertaining characters.
The film is full of many different styles and themes. At times it is a straight horror, a detective crime film or an epic romance. It occasionally feels like a hammer horror film, strengthened by a cameo from Christopher Lee. It could be argued that a film under two hours could become over stuffed with so many different themes and styles but Sleepy Hollow paces itself in a way that allows the film to easily change from romantic period piece to horror. The film could be described as the mixture of the rational with the spiritual.
However, the most successful aspect of Sleepy Hollow is the visuals. Sleepy Hollow shows the entire spectrum of the colour black. From the hints of green and brown in the black tree of the dead to the hints of blues in the black velvet jackets. As an example of the use of colour in films Sleepy Hollow shows many possibilities. The interior of a church painted in pure white and red is an eerie and disturbing image. The colour of clothes are often faded yellows and greens and this highlights the deep blacks or the flashes of red blood.
The film is principally a horror film and is terrifying in explicit ways such as the blood and beheadings and a few jump out scares. But the scenes that will scare the most are more subtle, such as the smiles of the mute horseman and the nightmares that haunt Crane. Burton excels in creating an atmosphere of horror. The town of Sleepy Hollow, bathed in dark colours and surrounded by a thick mist reflects the towns' name. However, Burton's imagery combined with Danny Elfman's atmospheric score creates the inescapable feeling that beneath the sleepy town true terror is always lurking.
If you like films bursting with colour, emotions and visual treats then any Tim Burton will more than please you. However, if you wish to see a film that reveals more subtle moments with every repeat viewing then Sleepy Hollow is the film for you.