  SLEEPY HOLLOWRated
 for graphic horror violence and gore, and for a scene of sexuality.Reviewed by: Maggi CONTRIBUTOR
FILM CREDITS Starring: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Casper Van Dien, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon | Director: Tim Burton | Producers: Scott Rudin, Adam Schroeder | Writer: Washington Irving | Distributor: Paramount Pictures
I was a bit leery at first when going to see Sleepy Hollow. Many questions came to mind, considering that the film is not the same as the Washington Irving story and it does have an "R" rating. I wondered, "has this been turned into another graphic horror movie?—Has Hollywood once again taken a classic and turned it into a piece of trash?—Is it just going to be lots of gore and violence?" After all, Hollywood seems more interested in making a buck then in telling a compelling story. I found my fears were unfounded. Sleepy Hollow is an interesting and fun story, though quirky at times.
Tim Burton is an oddball when it comes to making movies. They're quirky and silly, but they're also serious when they need to be. And that's what Sleepy Hollow is. It has its moments of silliness, and its moments of seriousness, and Johnny Depp is the perfect actor to play the main character. I was never much of a Depp fan, but seeing that he's also a bit of an oddball, it was as if he didn't even need to act when playing the role of the quirky and strange Ichabod Crane. To my surprise, this film exceeded my expectations. It is not for the weak of stomach, however, nor those who are easily offended. Year of Release — 1999 [ If our reviews have been helpful to you, please prayerfully consider a donation to help pay the expenses for making this service available to you and your family! Donations are tax-deductible. ] 
—Andrew Martin, age 17 I thought this film was visually striking, and enjoyed the unfortunately gory storytelling. However, it would have been more enjoyable with a lot less blood in view! The beheadings were, of course, to be expected, but, they were enough in themselves without excess explicit bloodletting. It could have easily been edited down to a PG-13 rating, and been even better. I have been a fan of Tim Burton's quirky films for years, but since I have gotten more attuned to the Holy Spirit, I am more discerning about my movie-going. I would recommend this film, but with reservations. I definitely would not let children view it, even in edited form, however. My Ratings: [2/4] "anti-Christian symbolism"... I had a couple of hours to kill while having some work done on my car so I decided to see a movie. I read the reviews on this website regarding "Sleepy Hollow" and thought it sounded rather benign so I went to see it. I thought the movie was very bloody, very graphic, and very distastful in so many ways. I don't know if that means I'm easily offended. In addition to scenes of decapitation, they also showed a headless body in all its bloody glory including the severed spinal column which I thought was way over the top (no pun intended). There was also a scene in which Ichabod Crane places his book of science over the Bible after giving a speech on enlightenment. More anti-Christian symbolism in my opinion. I can't recommend this movie on any level. My Ratings: [1/3] "Sleepy Hollow", Tim Burton's newest film, is a mixed bag. It is arguably one of the best new films, but is very heavy-handed with occultic overtones. ...Objectionable Material: This film contains a great deal of blood and gore, particularly when the Horseman explodes out of the gates of Hell. There are numerous swordfights, decapitations, and the like. There is little profanity, but some implied sex (not graphic). The main objection would be the occultic overtones. Witchcraft, 'circles of protection', Satanism, and possession are all dealt with, mostly in a pushy manner. The power of God is shown to be superior (the Horseman cannot enter the Church and the 'circle' doesn't stop him from throwing a grappling hook in the window and yanking out one of the people) to the power of the occult. ...There is also the portrayal of a minister as being a hypocrite and another as being a wife-beating maniac, but there ARE people like that out there. Ichabod, an agnostic, does regain his faith in God, which is good. Bottom Line: This movie is excellent entertainment. Despite its heavy-handedness with regard to witchcraft, it is an excellent film with some good moral messages (God is good, witchcraft is bad, etc.)! My Ratings: [2.5/5] This is not the best Tim Burton film. This was an okay movie, but I think that it could have been done better. The Disney version was more accurate. (I never thought I'd say that!) In my opinion, "Mars Attacks" is the best Tim Burton movie. The blood and gore aren't excessive, but the constant cleavage shots are pointless. My Ratings: [1.5/2] "missed the mark"... You missed the mark in a Christian rating of 2. Was the church actually a sanctuary or was the "white" magic symbol the source of protection? In any case the headless horseman still got his man despite the protection whatever the source. (A church with an adulterous pastor will actually be powerless as depicted.) The theme of the movie was the coming age of rationalism and rejection of spiritual things even in the midst of rather powerful occult spirituality. I think that is a fairly clear statement of New Age religion: anything spiritual except Christianity. My Ratings: [1/3.5] "a little too gorey"... I thought it was very good but a little to gorey for my taste. I like this version more than I like the original. I thought that they did a good job making this movie and I might see it again. My Ratings: [3.5/4.5] pleasantly surprised... I walked into the theater preparing for an hour and a half of blood and gore. However, much to my surprise the movie was somewhat tame (compared to todays standards). I certainly see the "R" rating, but to see a movie with no language or nudity is a welcome relief. As for the witchcraft... this movie is set in early America where witchcraft was real and practiced. I believe the story was totally factual and didn't "glamorize" witchcraft at all... My Ratings: [3/5] violence is largely comic; witchcraft is more of a parody... One of the best ghost story-to-cinema translations I have ever had the pleasure of seeing, "Sleepy Hollow" generates the perfect mood for just such a scary tale. More eerie and uncanny than terrifying, horrifying, or thrilling, Tim Burton's latest step to the fore delivers that which is missing from so many modern spook stories: numinous (that indefinable fear of the unknown). Burton, that master of atmosphere adds enough twists to the old "Legend" to keep a taut audience. "Sleepy Hollow" is of course Rated-R and so, unsuitable for children, but most of its points of difficulty should be acceptable for many adults. The violence, while gory (how can decapatations be anything but?), is largely comic and exagerrated. The witchcraft is more of a parody of witchery (of the "Bubble, bubble, toil, and trouble" brand - eye of newt, feet of crow, and all that...) than a reflection of the real thing. And the sex scene is so brief and inconsequential that I had to read the above review to remember that it was even there. My Ratings: [3/4] "good, though bizarre"... "Sleepy Hollow" is arguably one of Tim Burton's greatest, and weirdest, films. The sets are spectacular in a spooky way, the acting is good, and the special effects are fantastic. Content: There is a lot of bloody in the movie. There is little profanity and a brief scene where a couple make out in the forest. There is also an element of witchcraft in the plot, which is dealt with in a heavy-handed manner, but it is shown to be inferior to God (the Horseman can't enter the church and a 'rune of protection' cannot protect Katrina's father from the Horseman). Final Note: This movie is really good, though bizarre, and if one can handle gore, one should see it pronto. My Ratings: [2.5/5] overdid it on the witchcraft... I have never read the book by Washington Irwing but maybe Hollywood overdid on the witchcraft and denouncing of the Bible (which they often and usually do). Johnny Depp did a very somewhat quirky act and Christina Ricci was brilliant in hers but she has come a long way from her angelic role in "Mermaids" with Cher and Wynona Riders. "Sleepy Hollow" was fun to watch but would not be recommend for children or the weak of heart. My Ratings: [2.5/3] beautifully filmed, but disturbing... It's kind of a weird joy to see any Tim Burton film. They each create their own little world, from "Gotham City" to the highly stylized suburbs of "Edward Scissorhands". And you can tell that Burton is in love with all the worlds he creates. This love really shows in "Sleepy Hollow". Every frame pretty much screams of Burton's bizarre sensibilities. Although I'm really not a fan of horror films, I really enjoyed this one; it is sumptuous and beautifully filmed, with great stylized dialogue and acting. The violence, although pretty gruesome, isn't very horrific; it's too tongue-in-cheek to be really offensive. I was pretty disturbed by all the occultic references, however. And the story left a little to be desired. Overall, not much I can recommend from a Christian standpoint. However, it still is a very enjoyable film about (to quote Burton) "A man who lives in his head versus a man without a head." My Ratings: [1.5/4.5] "dripping with anti-Christ symbolism"... I came to this movie expecting to see a Burton-created gothic rendition of the story we all know from grade school. Unfortunately, I was not disappointed. I say this because it was simply dripping with too much anti-Christ symbolism for my tastes. Once again, Burton created a visual masterpiece the "Hammer" style from the mid '50s is brought to the forefront with fog and great use of mood. However, there is a lot wrong with this movie. I am against witchcraft, but the use of it in a movie does not necessarily cause me to shudder. This movie divided it into "good," or "white" witchcraft and "bad," or "black" witchcraft. It then portrayed the good as helpful. Ricci's character uses pentagrams to protect Crane. In the church scene, as the horsemen parades outside, one character is killed by being struck with a cross. A later shot shows the bloody and fallen cross next to the pentagram that had saved Ricci from the attack. A Bible thumping father is seen as almost demoniacal as he kills Crane's mother for being a "child of nature." This is a term used by modern day Wiccans. Finally, a book of witchcraft saves Cranes life, stopping the thrust that would have killed him. This movie was well-made, but immoral. I can't recommend it to anyone. My Ratings: [1/3.5] "not recommended"... I thought that this was a somewhat boring movie. Admittedly, there were some good parts, but they are few and far between. "Sleepy Hollow" seems to concentrate on dark parts of Christian history and focus on people who betray their faith for personal, worldly power rather than remain true to God. I would not recommend this movie to anyone. My Ratings: [2.5/1.5] witchcraft was disturbing... I liked this film well enough, and I pretty much agreed with the reviewer's take. Most of the head-chopping was more cartoonish than anything, and the one sexual encounter was brief and pretty mild by today's Hollywood standards. Still, the depictions of witchcraft were disturbing to me as a Christian. Essentially, a book of spells replaces the bible as the stereotypical protection against evil for the main protagonist. Teenagers—such as my own—will want to see this, however, its "R" rating is well-deserved and parents should exercise caution. My Ratings: [2.5/4] "did not leave the theater disgusted" ...Christopher Walken, who has spiked his jet black hair and filed his teeth, [is] very fun to watch [as he] roars as he brandished his sword! It has a lot of occult scenes, but I did not leave the theatre disgusted, as with so many other recent movies (ex. "Stigmata"). I definitely would not take children to it, though. My Ratings: [3/3.5] "Cleavage is more than abundant... a brief sexual encounter... (an aerial view of a man on top of a woman with some movement). ...several characters dabble [in the occult and] heavily use spells...
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Unlike the animated version, the character of Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is a New York City constable, dispatched to the upstate village of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a string of murders where all the victims have been beheaded. When he arrives in Sleepy Hollow, Crane hears the story of a Revolutionary War mercenary who beheaded American soldiers until he himself was beheaded. Now, the locals of the town believe that the horseman rides through the night, cutting off people's heads to replace his own.