Review of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) by Dann M — 22 Jul 2013

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a mixture of dark comedy, horror, and drama, done in the unique stylings of Tim Burton. The story is one of vengeance, after serving 15 years in prison Sweeney Todd returns to London to seek revenge on Judge Turpin, the man who wrongfully set him up in order to steal his wife.

To tell this story Burton relies on his faithful regulars Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, along with Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen. And while all of the performances are quite excellent, it's Depp's brilliant performance that carries the film and makes Sweeney Todd both sympathetic and villainous.

Musically, the film ranks as one of the best Broadway musicals to have been brought to screen; it has the depth and dimension of a big operatic score, yet it's also light and comedic at times. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street seems a rather unlikely musical to translate to the screen.

..but translate it does, in a beautiful and stylish way unlike any other musical has.