If Enchanted was the last musical that you experienced and you’ve been beating yourself for ways to get rid of that saccharine sweet aftertaste it left behind, Oscar and Golden Globe-winning Sweeney Todd... is just what the doctor ordered. Be warned that this one falls at the other end of the spectrum— but who can refuse the Burton-Depp combine even if it is accompanied by blood spurts (so many of them!) and cannibalism, to say the least.

Based on the Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's book, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street tells the tale of barber Benjamin Parker (Depp) who couldn’t be more happy about existence with his fair wife and bonny baby. But sinister Judge Turpin (Rickman), who has set his heart on the lady, has Parker falsely charged and imprisoned. Fifteen years later, Fleet Street has a new visitor. Parker returns as ‘Sweeney Todd’, thirsty for the blood of those who wronged him. Many come under his razor never to breathe again. Todd’s landlady/partner-in-crime Mrs Lovett (Carter) bakes pies out of the victims, as “Mr T” waits for that visit from his most important customer— the judge. Tim Burton’s films can’t escape being just a little dark be it a love story (Edward Scissorhands), a children’s film (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) or an animated one (Corpse Bride). Sweeney Todd is no exception. Edward Scissorhands comes to mind the minute you enter Todd’s dimly-lit ‘salon’ with its sloping glass roof, apart from the dark circles and the ‘stylist’ connection.

The dialogues are almost poetic. Sondheim’s music and lyrics have you watching on whether you are repulsed by the gore or entertained. This, and the performances by the actors. Depp’s histrionic talent is no secret. But the man can sing too! In fact, the other members of the cast have also crooned for the film and done a decent job of it, luckily for Burton. The Burton-Depp partnership strikes gold once again with Sweeney Todd.