Tim Burton rewatch! Sleepy Hollow was Burton’s tribute to his favorite Hammer Studios films, but with plenty of modern touches. And it rules.

Here’s what happens: It’s 1799. Science-minded detective Ichabod Crane investigates mysterious beheadings in the overly superstitious town of Sleepy Hollow. That’s where Crane’s logic goes to head-to-head with the paranormal. Or is that head to… headless?  

Origin story: Washington Irving’s 1820 short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is often considered one of the first works of literature to be considered genuinely American. Despite its whimsical tone, the story deals with themes regarding the American Revolution and life in the thirteen colonies before and after the war. In the 1990s, screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker hit the sweet spot of an IP being well-known by everyone, but not so beloved that a wild new interpretation wouldn’t be considered sacrilegious.

Outsider theory: Ichabod is very much the outsider in this story, with his logical ways conflicting with the supernatural in Sleepy Hollow. But then…

Reality breaks through: …the movie takes a turn when Ichabod realizes that it’s someone very much human controlling the Headless Horseman, with very human motivations. This is how Ichabod can save the day at the end.

Best bits: Katrina: “Do you think me wicked?” Ichabod: “No, but perhaps there is a little bit of witch in you, Katrina.” Katrina: “Why do you say that?” Ichabod: “Because you have bewitched me.”

Thoughts on this viewing: I absolutely love Sleepy Hollow. It’s a visual and audio feast, with something interesting happening in every shot, and Danny Elfman’s bombastic yet romantic score. Is this secretly Burton’s best film?

Next: Who wants a banana?

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