Todd Sweeney (2007)

Todd Sweeney:

The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) Movie Review

Todd Sweeney is a strange fusion of music, murder, revenge, madness and cannibalism. Brought to the big screen by the quirky talents of long time collaborators director, Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp, this maniacal movie is an adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's killer Broadway musical which won 8 Tony Awards in 1979. Todd Sweeney the Musical returned to Broadway in 2006.

As can be expected from all Tim Burton's movies, the Victorian sets and cinematography are artistic, dark and moody. The Todd Sweeney character is said to be based on a "historical" character in London in the 1800s - most notably the character depicted in the book by Thomas Peckett Prest - though the actual event is most likely to have been based on the true case of rue de la Harpe murders in Paris' Latin Quarter.

Inky hair, heavy eyebrows, pale faced Todd Sweeney (Johnny Depp) is the homicidal, razor-wielding psychopathic barber who slashes his customers' throats. The baker downstairs (Helena Bonham Carter) is the friend / lover who grinds up the corpses of Todd's victims to fill her meat pies and sell it to unsuspecting customers. A tale that is as horrifying as that of Todd Sweeney's contemporary, the true to life original slasher - Jack the Ripper.

The music is the best part of the movie and some of the songs are reminiscent of the enigmatic singer-songwriter Scott Walker's earlier solo albums featuring his trademark "rainy blue days" songs. It is interesting to note that the movie has two versions of the song about Joanna and Scott Walker also has had two hit songs with this lady: "Joanna" (1968) and "When Joanna Loved Me" (1969). Both Todd Sweeney the movie and the musical and Scott Walker's music utilizes gorgeous, lush, moody orchestrations. Johnny Depp, who used to be a singer with several garage rock bands in the late 70's , sang these classical oriented songs surprisingly well.

The movie won 1 Oscar for Best Art Direction and 2 Oscar nominations for best actor (Johnny Depp) and best costume design.

Todd Sweeney: Movie Review - Advisory for Children and Objectionable Themes:

Todd Sweeney is not for those who are easily terrified by horror scenes and definitely not suitable for children.

The throat-slitting scenes leaves nothing to the imagination and are as graphic as any slasher movie ever made to date. Because of the violent content and disturbing graphic violent images, the movie has been slapped with a R movie rating. If not for the ironically soothing classical influenced music, Sweeney would have the squeamish running out of the theaters. The godless pursuit of revenge - first against his enemies and later against all mankind - won't make this movie a favorite for people looking for moral values in movies. Revenge, murder (gushing and flowing red blood), madness, cannibalism and depravity are common themes running throughout the movie. The movie's tag line says it all: "Never Forgive, Never Forget"

Streaming Video from YouTube on full movie trailer of Todd Sweeney:

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