Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Set in 19th-century London, Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp, who just might win the Oscar for this one) was once Benjamin Barker – a young barber who doted on his wife Lucy and baby daughter.

Lucy's beauty attracts sinister Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) and, in order to make off with her, he gets Benjamin locked up on false charges.

Now Barker is back in town as Sweeny Todd to seek revenge.

Upon his return, Barker is taken in by Mrs Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), a lovelorn pie maker who has preserved Barker's beloved razors over the past decade and a half. They soon form the most horrendous of partnerships: he poses as the hottest new barber around, inviting men up for what turns out to be a fatal shave; she, in turn, makes culinary use of the victims' remains, churning out the tastiest ‘meat' pies in the whole town. The dark and bleak setting of the film has a wonderful yet creepy quality about it and the drama unfolds like a classical tale of revenge. The characters are so well enacted that you will hate and like them at the same time.

The screenplay is brilliant and the costume design works beautifully with the highly stylised and authentic setting.

Johnny Depp's pastime of being in a music band has paid off, because when he breaks into a song in the film, he comes across as a natural singer. He steals the show with his sheer power of performance as a complex character that was tailor- made for him.

A must-see for Johnny Depp fans and for viewers with an appetite for the unusual.

Rating: Four out of five

Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall and Sacha Baron Cohen

Web review: “You'll be twisted, manipulated and repulsed, but always entertained. You might also find yourself uttering, ‘God, that's good.'''
Arizona Daily Star