Halloween Movie Diary: Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Tim Burton is one my of all-time favorite directors and his movies are perfect for Halloween. His 1999 film Sleepy Hollow features Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane and Christina Ricci as Katrina Van Tassel, the classic characters from Washington Irving's story. The movie also includes more stars (a Harry Potter smorgasbord if you will) including Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, and Richard Griffiths. Sleepy Hollow is the ultimate Tim Burton movie, showing off his trademark style. There is misty and dark cinematography, macabre humor, and plenty of over-the-top gore. But these are just a few of the reasons why this film is perfect for Halloween as well as just perfect in general.

First of all, look at this. This is easily one of Johnny Depp's most attractive roles, but he also captures the essence of Ichabod Crane so well. He's smart and reasonable, and yet cowardly and awkward, getting queasy at his own profession. And yet he tries to be open-minded to different ideas and is brave when the occasion calls for it. This picture also gives a good idea of what the movie looks like the entire time. A small, late-1600s town in New England is the perfect setting for a Tim Burton film. The quaint village vibe and overgrown forests give the film an eerie feel.

Christina Ricci also makes a wonderful Katrina Van Tassel. We know she can do creepy; she won our hearts twice as Wednesday Addams in the early '90s. She gives the character of Katrina more depth than we are used to. Ricci makes Katrina cute with a childlike sense of innocence mixed with a darker side that shows off the character's interest in witchcraft. If Sleepy Hollow were a blog on  Tumblr, Katrina Van Tassel would be the feature that brands it pastel goth.

If hexes and decapitation are something you are into, then Sleepy Hollow is the film you need to see this Halloween. Tim Burton truly outdid himself with this aesthetically pleasing, hilarious, and horrific movie. Plus, Christopher Walken is the Headless Horseman. I mean, it doesn't get better than that.