If you’re a creaky old horror film buff like me, Tim Burton’s 1999 film Sleepy Hollow is a nice little love letter to a few classics. Of course, going in not knowing what the director is paying homage to works just fine, particularly if you also toss out ANY notions that he’s going to to a straight retelling of the original Washington Irving short story. Granted, I’d bet most people who went to see this back when it was released weren’t stuffy critics who poked at the movie for not staying close to that moldy lore at all (or had even read the story, for that matter). If you wanted a well-paced horror flick with some solid performances, great visual effects and a few shocks along the way, you got that and then some. Those of us who saw this with one eye out for the director’s reference material were more likely than not a great deal more giddy by the time those credits rolled…

Johnny Depp is of course, brilliant as Ichabod Crane, transformed from a beak-nosed schoolteacher to a 1799 New York City detective booted to the titular town after his newfangled investigation methods tick off the powers that be. In a wacky way, Crane comes off as a sort of precursor to Sherlock Holmes with enough personality quirks that make his character always interesting to watch. He’s a bit squeamish, fumbles with his bag of detecting tools and gets a bit flustered when he’s in the presence of the lovely Katrina Van Tassel (Christina Ricci). Of course, he’s even more distressed when he gets a load of that Headless Horseman that’s been killing off certain townspeople with relish.

I’ll shut up here about the rest of that plot other than to say the murders are brilliantly shot and the mix of practical and CG effects is flawless. I was surprised to see families bring their kids to this film back in 1999 (probably thinking the film would be harmless fluff like Beetlejuice or only mildly creepy in an Edward Scissorhands vein. Of course, between the shocking decapitations, a few surprise deaths in a church scene and some unsettling flashback sequences with a young Ichabod, this is certainly NOT something you want a child to have nightmares about. Then again, I guess there are probably a few too many kids who saw this flick and grew up wanting to make their own horror movies.

On the other hand, not knowing that Burton and his production team were paying homage to some great Hammer horror films from the 1950’s and 60’s in the art direction, cinematography and casting means some of the more elegant decisions will go right over a few heads. Christopher Lee gets a great small cameo, and Michael Gough does a fine job with his role as well. I’d say casting Christoper Walken as the Horseman was a genius move, as he looks scarier than usual with that ghostly makeup and razor teeth.Burton’s ex-flame, Lisa Marie has a silent cameo in those aforementioned flashbacks, and if you happen to be a Barbara Steele fan, the resemblance is striking (and one shot in particular is lifted from one of her better horror flicks).

The rest of the cast plays up their parts just fine and there are some great comic performances that don’t feel out of place because there’s going to be a gory demise that takes yet another character out of the picture. By the time things reach the wild finale that throws a ton of great effects work, some scenery (and actor) chewing and a reliably fantastic Danny Elfman score to stunning effect, you’ll be smiling, yet hiding behind a couch cushion or unraveled sweater sleeve because Burton has done his job just right. Granted, the horror genre has gotten a great deal more gory since, but for me, this is one of those favorites that still packs a punch thanks to all the parts falling exactly into place. My head didn’t roll as that poster promised, but it did nod and smile quite a lot.

Anyway, check this one out if you haven’t and double it up with Burton’s take on Sweeney Todd, as it’s another classic horror that gets a superb “remake” from one of the modern masters of the genre. Now, if only Burton would get to making those Doctor Phibes reboots I keep hoping he’ll do with Johnny Depp, I can leave the planet a lot happier…