There are some movies we can’t help but
like in spite of ourselves. For me, Sleepy Hollow is among them. Yes, some of
the acting is wooden. Yes, it was unnecessary to give both Ichabod and the
Horseman elaborate backstories. And yes, the ending is completely ridiculous. And
not everyone is going to like the reworking of Washington Irving’s classic
ghost yarn into a grisly supernatural whodunnit, but what cannot be denied is
that this film is drenched in Halloween atmosphere. From the opening chase
through a cornfield (completely with an awesome scarecrow that many a haunter
has tried to replicate), to the village of Sleepy Hollow itself, to the
foreboding, fog-filled Western Woods, Sleepy
Hollow captures the feel of a chilly October night perfectly. Not to
mention, the soundtrack is perfect. I
have the main titles on my MP3 player, and often listen to it when I’m out for
a walk on a crisp fall evening. And then of course, there is the Horseman.
Whereas previous adaptions had to resort to the old trick of a cape thrown over
an actor’s shoulders, this version had the advantage of computers, and so the
Horseman actually looks headless. Not to mention, the costume designers outdid
themselves on the Horseman’s rotting uniform. An awesome character design.
In short, I’d say that if you’re looking
some movies to put you in the Halloween frame of mind, you could do a lot worse
than Sleepy Hollow.
HalloweeNut’s
Verdict:
2
out of 4 Skulls
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