Washington Irving's classic story couldn't have turned out this perfect in anyone but director Tim Burton's hands.

Set in 1799 New England this has medical examiner Johnny Depp being sent to a small town where people are being murdered and their heads going missing. The residents tell him it's the "Headless Horseman" who's doing it and Depp has problems believing the spirit of a decapitated murdered is using a sword to do all the murder. Well guess what turns out to be true.

This is the perfect Halloween movie with stylish production values, a moody opening scene, decapatations a-plenty (and one cool body cut in half), Depp's suited performance in the title role and a menacing villain that puts most slasher flick baddies to shame (think an unstoppable killing machine equal to the original Terminator).

While there's some sketchy plotting this is just too entertaining and darkly funny to notice really. Christopher Walken is wacky as the freako horseman in flashbacks and it's amusing to see Depp's character always fainting. Burton has definitely rebounded after the weak Mars Attacks! making one Hell of a ride.

Directed By: Tim Burton.
Written By: Andrew Kevin Walker, Kevin Yagher.

Starring: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon.