Johnny Depp is the title character who returns to London following decades of false imprisonment. After finding lodging with the owner of the worst pie shop in town, Mrs. Lovett (Burton’s wife Helena Bonham Carter), Sweeney begins his quest for revenge against the evil Judge Turpin (the incomparable Alan Rickman) who framed him and stole his wife and daughter. Posing as a barber, Todd begins slitting the throats of all of his customers, working his way up to the judge, while Mrs. Lovett disposes of the bodies in her suddenly popular pies.

It’s hardly a conventional plot for a musical, but with master composer/lyricist Steven Sondheim (A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Into The Woods) in charge, it works unusually well. The horror-musical is nothing new— even the original stage production ofSweeney Todd is old hat - but the subgenre is normally comedic, with movies such asThe Rocky Horror Picture Show exploiting the contrast between the two elements for laughs. Sweeney Todd is an operatic tragedy told almost exclusively through song. It’s a risky venture, but surprisingly, Burton and co. have succeeded admirably with the project.

Johnny Depp is at his dark and brooding best in the lead role, managing to garner audience sympathy while still remaining frightening and intimidating throughout. Helena Bonham Carter adopts a funky cockney accent and gives a wonderfully warm and funny performance as Mrs. Lovett. Alan Rickman brilliantly personifies the evil judge, walking his patented fine line between pure evil and Britishness. While Borat himself, Sacha Baron Cohen, steals a few scenes in a hilarious turn as Depp’s competition: a flamboyantly Italian barber.