Sleepy Hollow (1999)
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A pragmatic New York City constable must investigate a series of brutal decapitations in the upstate village of Sleepy Hollow.
The story
In the fall of 1799, pragmatic New York City constable Ichabod Crane is sent to the upstate Dutch village of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of brutal decapitations of its residents, which included landowner Peter Van Garrett, his son Dirk, and widow Emily Winship. Received by the insular town elders, Ichabod learns that the locals believe the killer is the undead apparition of a headless Hessian mercenary, who is trying to find his missing head. Skeptical of the paranormal explanation, Ichabod begins his investigation and settles in the house of the Van Tassels, becoming romantically attached to Baltus' spiritual daughter, Katrina.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1799, Ichabod Crane investigates a series of decapitations in Sleepy Hollow, where locals believe a headless Hessian mercenary is the culprit. Ichabod becomes involved with Katrina Van Tassel while investigating the conspiracy. He discovers that the victims were linked to a will, and the true villain is Katrina's stepmother, Mary Van Tassel. Mary, who had been betrayed by the Van Tassels, made a pact with Satan to resurrect the Hessian to seize the land. After a confrontation at a windmill, Ichabod restores the Hessian's head, breaking Mary's control. The Hessian then takes Mary to hell, and Ichabod leaves Sleepy Hollow with Katrina and a young boy named Masbath.
- First release year
- 1999
- Runtime (minutes)
- 105
- Production countries
- Germany; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Tim Burton
- Writers
- Andrew Kevin Walker · screenplay; Kevin Yagher · story; Andrew Kevin Walker · story
- Cast and characters
- Johnny Depp · Ichabod Crane; Christina Ricci · Katrina Anne Van Tassel; Miranda Richardson · Lady Mary Van Tassel (née Archer); Michael Gambon · Baltus Van Tassel; Casper Van Dien · Brom Van Brunt; Jeffrey Jones · Reverend Steenwyck
- Genres
- Gothic horror; fantasy; mystery
- Themes
- supernatural; conspiracy; romance
- Tone and mood
- gothic; eerie
- Setting
- Sleepy Hollow, New York, 1799
- Premise and plot tags
- horror; mystery; period piece
- Source material / true-story basis
- Washington Irving's 1820 short story 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised its direction, screenplay, visual effects, musical score, and the performances of the cast.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 65 · scale: 100 · review count: 35
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Art Direction · win
- Production trivia
- The film was an international co-production between Germany and the United States.; The film's score was composed by Danny Elfman.; The film was an homage to various Hammer Film Productions.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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