Sweeney Todd – The Director’s Cut (Acorn/Drama)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C-     Telefilm: B-

 

 

Ray Winstone is effectively chilling as the title murder of Sweeney Todd – The Director’s Cut, a non-Musical 2006 British telefilm that deals more graphically with The Demon Barber of Fleet Street than the Musical ever could.  It is very graphic, especially in this version, and Joshua St. Johnston’s script makes things creepier by blurring moral lines and creating suspense in the familiar tale.

 

Todd went to prison for 20 years for a crime he did not commit and now wants revenge.  He becomes more vengeful when the love of his life becomes ill and while they trust him for medical emergencies, they never suspect him to be a murderer despite his criminal record?  This becomes a deeper examination of his psyche and the supporting cast that includes David Warner makes this work all the more effectively.

 

David Moore boldly directs the material, not thinking of the Musical as sacred and making the time period real.  This was so graphic that it appeared on cable, not PBS or syndication.  With a feature film of the Musical in the works, this version will just keep growing in reputation and is an impressive work worth your time if you can handle the blood.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is softer than one would have liked, with limited color intentionally and less excusable limits in detail and depth.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has no major surrounds, but is nicely recorded for what it is.  Extras include text background essay on the story in a paper fold inside the DVD case and cast filmographies.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo