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

Based on the Broadway musical with a book by Hugh Wheeler, and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, this film tells a dark story of revenge, and certainly does not glamourise the concept.

Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp) returns to London after some time away. The last time he was in London, he worked as a barber, one of the best in the city. He was married and had a young daughter named Johanna.

But before he went away, his wife died, and his young daughter - still just a baby - was taken by Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) and raised as his ward.

Todd has returned to London with only one thing on his mind: revenge.

Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp) and Judge Turpin
(Alan Rickman).

Returning to his old place of business, he finds the downstairs shop is now a pie shop, run by the eccentric Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), who is finding business difficult given the shortage of good quality meat for her pies.

With Todd's thirst for revenge, and Lovett's desperate need for pie filling, the two hatch the most evil of plans. Any and all of Todd's customers who come to him for a shave have their throats slit by his razor, and their bodies are sent down to the floor below, where they are turned into meat for Lovett's pies. Yes, you read that right, I warned you the story was dark.

Their first victim is the charlatan Pirelli (Sacha Baron Cohen), a rival barber who sells a concoction called "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir", which he claims can regrow hair on a bald head. Pirelli recognises Todd from his previous life, and threatens to expose him. Furious, Todd kills him, and their sinister plan is underway.

Todd takes on Pirelli's former apprentice, a young boy named Toby (Edward Sanders), as his own apprentice, and little by little, begins to do away with customer after customer, all the while trying to get back his daughter Johanna (Jayne Wisener), who is in turn being pursued by potential wooer Anthony (Jamie Campbell Bower).

Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) and Toby (Edward Sanders).

Meanwhile, Lovett's pie business is flourishing, with customers queueing around the block for her latest pies, completely unaware what - or who - they are consuming.

The screenplay, by John Logan, follows the plot of the original musical quite closely, with only a few minor changes. A few of the songs from the musical have been omitted (I assume for time considerations), but overall, the plot and flow has been maintained. It is good to see that all of the best songs from the musical are still there, including my personal favourite "A Little Priest".

Sondheim's songs - apart from those few omissions - are still intact, and as magnificent as ever. The cast - at least the ones who sing - do a great job in their performances. Baron Cohen in particular does an incredible job as Pirelli, but the chemistry between Depp and Bonham Carter - admittedly established over many previous projects together, in collaboration with director Tim Burton - is fantastic, and the two of them can both sing well.

Pirelli (Sacha Baron Cohen).

The cinematography, by Dariusz Wolski, is very good, with the majority of the film in near-total darkness. There are plenty of shadows, and plenty of darkness, as one would assume given the themes of the film. Combined with Dante Ferretti's production design, this works to convey the seedier side of Victorian London in a truly immersive way.

The performances of the entire cast are fabulous, and the cast's ability to sing - admittedly some very difficult songs in terms of vocal range - is brilliant. The majority of the 'dialogue' is sung, so an ability to sing was clearly a prerequisite in terms of casting, but everyone seems quite comfortable in their roles.

Director Tim Burton - quite possibly the best choice to bring such a macabre story to the screen - has done an incredible job, and made one of Sondheim's more obscure musicals much more accessible to a wider audience. It may be an incredibly uncomfortable film to watch, but it is nonetheless brilliant.

9 out of 10.