Sleepy Hollow (1999) Review – A Masterclass in Gothic Supernatural Horror

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are taking a look at Tim Burton’s supernatural horror movie Sleepy Hollow (1999).

Gothic, supernatural horror classic

Sleepy Hollow is a story that is, probably, familiar to most people. New York City police constable Ichabod Crane, played by Johnny Depp, is dispatched to the town of Sleepy Hollow to get to the bottom of the mysterious murders taking place. A headless horseman, the supposed spirit of a deceased Hessian warrior played by a terrifying-looking Christopher Walken, is apparently killing the townsfolk. The only question is why? Crane, using his modern, scientific method of investigation is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. Whatever the cost.

“Sleepy Hollow is a gothic, supernatural horror movie with significant nods to the Hammer Horror era. What resulted is a quintessentially Burton film with buckets of gore.”

Sleepy Hollow is a gothic, supernatural horror movie with some significant nods to the British Hammer Horror era of the 70s. Originally earmarked to be directed by special effects guru Kevin Yagher, Sleepy Hollow was all set to be a low-budget slasher.

Differences between Yagher and Paramount Pictures led to him being replaced by Tim Burton who was given a bigger budget and far more creative freedom. What resulted from that is a quintessentially Burton film with a high-profile cast and buckets of gore.

Sleepy Hollow begins as somewhat of a mystery movie. The Headless Horseman is something of an enigma; a boogieman to the people of the town. His story is expanded on gradually as we uncover the motive for the killings. The viewer is placed as something of a companion to Ichabod Crane. Though we see events taking place, we are never really given an explanation for them. It is only when Crane uncovers the mystery that we start to learn a little more about what is going on.

A lot of action but shines when it is scary

The slow unraveling of the story makes for some seriously suspenseful moments but it is actually in some of the more traditional scares that the movie shines. The appearance of the horseman is accompanied by heavy winds and fleeing animals. This visual cue does a fantastic job of adding to the tension of the movie and builds up a few genuine horror scares. The fact that our protagonist is somewhat inept only adds to this.

What might be quite surprising about Sleepy Hollow however, is just how much it leans into being an action movie. You would be forgiven for assuming that the horseman arrives, removes heads, and leaves much like any slasher villain. This is rarely the case, however. The horseman is incredibly adept at wielding numerous types of weaponry and his skills riding a horse are particularly noteworthy.

Many of the scenes are fast-paced and full of flair involving epic chases and even the odd sword fight. As we reach the final stanza, the movie pretty much transforms into a full-on action flick. With this in mind, it is actually surprising that the movie features so much gore. Kids would be sure to love some of the chases and fights in the movie but the gore would be a big negative.

It might actually surprise many coming into it for the first time; I know it surprised me. Sleepy Hollow ticks a lot of different genre boxes and is frequently upping the ante. Sure, it is a gothic tale of the supernatural but it is also a comedy with a ton of action. It speaks to Burton’s direction that these huge tonal differences don’t cause any feeling of whiplash. They blend together perfectly and the movie flows effortlessly.

Excellent acting

Acting is incredibly solid throughout. Christina Ricci is a treat playing against type as a dolled-up love interest who’s not afraid to get her hands dirty. Fans of Ricci will probably point out how different she looks in this role. She was known for playing slightly awkward, outcast characters but she looks legitimately stunning here. She’s probably one of the most iconic modern gothic horror characters in years. Transitioning from child actor to serious adult actor while maintaining a high profile is not an easy task but this was one of her first steps on that journey.

“Johnny Depp affords Crane a sense of delicate sensitivity that makes the character feel vulnerable and easy to like. His subtle micro-expressions lend humour to every scene.”

I imagine many people perhaps think of her first when Sleepy Hollow comes to mind. Her colour palette and flowing clothes stand out against a backdrop of drab, grey characters. Christopher Walken deserves special mention because he is utterly terrifying as the headless horseman. He looks demented and does a wonderful job. The entire side cast of characters is fantastic. The only one-note performance is Casper Van Dien but that’s to be expected.

The stand out performance here is obviously Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane. Depp affords Crane a sense of delicate sensitivity that makes the character feel vulnerable and easy to like. His subtle micro-expressions lend humour to every scene. Nobody manages to mix silly and serious quite as well as he does. He’s completely unafraid to make a fool of himself but never hints at any sense of irony when donning ridiculous magnifying glasses and using Crane’s bizarre scientific tools. A brilliant performance that is the highlight of the movie.

A quintessential Burton movie

Despite Tim Burton not making any real horror movies up to the point of Sleepy Hollow‘s 99 release, this is very much a Tim Burton movie. Aside from numerous references to his previous films including The Nightmare Before Christmas; the gallons of orange-tinted blood and theatrical violence is something that would be seen again in Sweeney Todd 9 years later. Naturally, the cinematography, courtesy of Emmanuel Lubezki, is stunning. The autumn feeling of the movie is true to the original story with fallen leaves and jack-o-lanterns seen throughout.

“The decision to replace Kevin Yagher with Tim Burton led to a bigger budget and more creative freedom. It stands as one of the last truly great Tim Burton films.”

Much of the movie is set in the dead of night. The lighting utilised makes everything look as if it takes place under a full moon. There is a slight feeling of surreal dreaminess to many of the scenes, too. We also see the use of flashbacks which is something Burton is well known for. Crane’s mum spinning up in to the air surrounded by a bright white backdrop is the type of scene that only Tim Burton could get away with. Especially with the amount of cleavage she has on show.

Frequent collaborator Danny Elfman tags along for the soundtrack, further adding to the whole traditional Burton feel of the movie. Throw in a liberal helping of gore and some fantastic practical effects and you have one of the last truly great Tim Burton films. I should mention that it won’t be for everyone. Some people hate Burton’s style and those people need not apply. People who are expecting all-out fantasy and horror romance might be disappointed by the heavy action focus, too. It’s spinning a lot of plates and some are bound to drop for certain viewers.

Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight

Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.

A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.