Opened: December 21, 2007

Directed by: Tim Burton

Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Jayne Wisener, Sacha Baron Cohen, Laura Michelle Kelly, Jamie Campbell Bower & Ed Sanders

It’s hard to believe a Broadway musical can pass as a horror film, but Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd is just that.

After years of being wrongfully imprisoned, Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp) returns to London to avenge the treatment of his wife Lucy (Laura Michelle Kelly) and daughter Joanna (Jayne Wisener). Pie shop owner Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) helps devise a plan to take down Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman).

There’s no director other than Tim Burton who could’ve taken on Sondheim’s masterpiece. Burton’s flair for darker films allowed for him to perfectly set the tone. The costumes, set design and lack of color and light make this a stylistically perfect musical.

Depp and Carter are perfectly cast despite not having musical backgrounds. Their voices are rough at times, but it matches with their characters.

Final say: Disgusting but frighteningly good. ★★★★☆