Frightful Friday Movie Review - Sleepy Hollow

First off, I would like to wish everykitty an ABSOLUTELY PAWSOME Halloween, filled with treats and toys and spooky fun!

For our last Frightful Friday movie review, I am reviewing another personal favorite: Sleepy Hollow.

Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Directed By: Tim Burton
Written By: Washington Irving (story)
Kevin Yagher (screen story)
Andrew Kevin Walker (screen story and screenplay)

I am sure that most, if not all of us, are familiar with Washington Irving's story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." If you aren't, kitties, I'm sure your beans can tell it to you. It is a wonderfully spooky story set in the early days of our nation. . . in a quiet and "sleepy" village in New York.

This movie is a new take on that story.

In the film, Johnny Depp stars as Ichabod Crane. Now, for most of us who are familiar with Irving's description of good ol' Ichabod, and with the Disney version as well, this casting may come as a shock. Ichabod, handsome? Ichabod, desirable? Ichabod . . . JOHNNY DEPP?

Like I said, it is a new take on the story. And Johnny Depp does an amazing job as Ichabod.

Ichabod Crane is an up and coming young policeman in New York City, who gets on the nerves of his fellow officers and the judges because of his zealous pursuit of justice, and his newfangled scientific way of solving murders. In order to prove that his methods work and are worthwhile, he is sent to investigate a series of grisly murders in the small town of Sleepy Hollow. The locals, it seems, blame an apparition known as the Headless Horseman, as all of the victims have been decapitated. Ichabod discounts their tale as mere superstition, and vows to find the true all-too human murderer.



Ichabod boards with the Van Tassels, who are prominent members of the village. It is, if not love, then definitely attraction at first sight for both Ichabod and Van Tassel's lovely daughter, Katrina (played by Christina Ricci). Awkward in social situations, and especially with ladies, Ichabod struggles against his feelings for Katrina while suffering from the jealous mockery of her long-time suitor, Brom Bones.


All clues soon lead to a mysteriously dead and twisted tree deep in the woods . . . and to the Headless Horseman himself. Are the deaths really the result of a supernatural curse, or is there a human agent involved? Can Ichabod trust the Van Tassels? Is Katrina part of the plot? Ichabod must find the murderer - before it is too late.


Kitties, I cannot write enough good things about this movie. Not only is this fresh take on a familair story interesting, it also keeps you guessing as to what is really happening. The special effects are amazing, and I can't even begin to describe how exciting it is to see the Headless Horseman everytime he appears on screen!

That being said, this movie is definitely creepy. It has a lot of humor, most of it dark, and there is a lot of gruesome things in it, including a scene where Ichabod exhumes and examines a dead woman's body. This isn't even going into a few slightly spicy scenes, and the totally pawsome (if freaky) end of the mystery. If you can't handle a little ick in your movies, or you don't understand dark humor, then you probably won't enjoy this movie. However, if you are in the mood for something spooky and funny, with a good mystery thrown in (and lots of Johnny Depp!), then this movie is for you. I give "Sleepy Hollow" two paws up and a tail poof!

I would like to end this special movie review with the song "The Headless Horseman" from Disney's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," which the great Bing Crosby narrated and sang. (Mommy sings this to me a lot this time of year.)

When the spooks have a midnight Jamboree
They break it up with fiendish glee
Ghosts are bad, but the one that's cursed
Is the Headless Horseman, he's the worst

That's right, he's a fright, on Halloween night

But when he goes a-joggin' 'cross the land
Holdin' his noggin in his hand
Demons take one look and groan
And hit the road for parts unknown

Beware, take care, he rides alone

And there's no spook, like a spook who's spurned
They don't like him, and he's really burned
He swears to the longest day he's dead
He'll show them that he can get a head

They say he's tired of his flamin' top
He's got a yen to make a swap
So he rides one night each year
To find a head in the hollow here

Now he likes them little, he likes them big
Part in the middle, or a wig
Black or white or even red
The Headless Horseman needs a head

With a hip-hip and a clippity-clop
He's out lookin' for a top to chop
So don't stop to figure out a plan
You can't reason with a headless man

Now if you doubt this tale is so
I met that spook just a year ago
No, I didn't stop for a second look
I made for the bridge that spans the brook
For once you cross that bridge, my friends
The ghost is through, his power ends

So when you're riding home tonight
Make for the bridge with all your might
He'll be down in the hollow there
He needs your head, look out, beware

With a hip-hip and a clippity-clop
He's out looking for a head to swap
So don't try to figure out a plan
You can't reason with a headless man

(Click here to watch the clip!)

BOO!