Based on the hit Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim –– which was adapted originally from the 1973 play by British scribe Christopher Bond –– this award-winning film takes on the tale of the barber who became a butcher.

The story starts with a wrongfully imprisoned barber named Benjamin Barker returning to London after 15 years in Australia to seek revenge under the pseudonym Sweeney Todd.

At the centre of Todd's plans is the desire to see the judge responsible for his punishment and the destruction of his family gets his comeuppance.

But when obstacles come up to bar his vengeance, he decides to dispatch as many of his clients as possible –– giving them a much closer shave than they expected.

Gory

Making the deed all the more grisly is the fact that he then enlists help to turn the bodies into pies –– scary stuff, especially as some think the gory story has some factual footings.

The film also sees the inimitable teaming of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton once again to create yet another unique chiller right up there with their previous success, the hauntingly funny Sleepy Hollow.

Joining the talented pairing, who have also worked together on films such as Ed Wood and Edward Scissorhands, is the brilliant British actress, and Tim Burton's wife, Helena Bonham Carter –– who plays Todd's partner in crime Mrs Lovett.

The list of home-grown stars goes on with Alan Rickman as the corrupt Judge Turpin, Timothy Spall as his side kick and even a cameo from Anthony Head.

Not only is the acting stellar but the cast, including Depp, sing –– and somehow murder and music mix without it seeming odd.

Another highlight for me was the image of London the film portrayed, with its smog and dark back alleys matching the murky tale perfectly.

With no shortage of blood and gore, this movie is not for the faint hearted, but the hint of black humour throughout helps to make light of the dark story.

And although the ending, as anyone could predict, is not happy, there is a twist in this twisted tale that does make it somewhat unexpected.

Definitely not fun for all the family but a great film, I give Sweeney Todd a 4/5.