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

Now, this film is one of my favourite films of all time. It’s up there with the great classics such as Muppet Treasure Island, and Happy Feet (which is undeniably the greatest film of all time). The film is the tragic tale of Benjamin Barker, who is falsely charged and sent abroad by the corrupt Judge Turpin, played brilliantly by Alan Rickman, and returns 15 years later under the name of Sweeney Todd and vows revenge.The film has a beautifully dark twisted gothic style, which works well giving the circumstances of the film. Being a musical, it is quite littered with musical pieces, most of which fit well, although a few just drag on, “Johanna” being an example, a whining proclamation of love. However, that’s the only really weak musical number, others are much more entertaining; the shaving competition section stands out as comedic and musical gold.Sweeney Todd himself is a particularly well built character. Even his appearance gives across who he is; his unkempt dark hair and pale sickly skin give across the impression of him never having had slept. He looks as if every moment we don’t see him is spent in angry tears. To describe the film as gory would be an understatement; Tim Burton throws blood over the majority of scenes as if it’s going out of fashion. It certainly fits in with the atmosphere and mood of the film, and it’s a rare outburst of colour in the bleak grey setting.One complaint I have is that it can be a little hard to follow. I had to watch the film twice and read the Wikipedia page three times before I understood the background of Todd. This may just come naturally through being a musical, but having the story explained through music can make it difficult to take everything in, especially for people like me who just faze out in the songs and focus on the melody. But that doesn’t make the overall film less enjoyable, just more confusing.Overall, it’s a dark black film with entertaining musical pieces and interesting characters. If you’re a fan of Tim Burton’s work, then you’re sure to enjoy it, but it’s most definitely a film to a particular audience. Just make sure you know what you’re in for.