It’s just so nice having Tim Burton about the place. At his best, he’s the author of sublime post-modern fairy tales, The Brothers Grimm by way of James Whale. Occasionally though, his instincts for gorgeous gothic pastiche can dominate to the detriment of everything else.
The Nightmare Before Christmas, his 1993 stop-motion puppet epic is a perfect case in point – a beautifully macabre production dampened by kitten weak plotting and Danny Elfman’s terrible Gilbert and Sullivan stylings. Happily, though undeniably slight and blotched by similarly misbegotten show tunes, Corpse Bride is a far more beguiling creature.
This nineteenth misadventures of Victor (Depp), a bumbling groom-to-be, whose forthcoming nuptials to impoverished aristocrat Victoria (Watson) are disrupted when he accidentally weds the comely titular zombie (Bonham Carter).
Like A Series Of Unfortunate Events or Burton’s own collection of poetry, The Melancholy Death Of Oyster Boy, the primary reference point is illustrator Edward Gorey (Corpse’s butler is a ringer for Gorey’s unexpected penguin) with added Caligari shadows and pink elephant interludes.
Not the director’s best by any means, but cheery fare for particularly glum goth die-hards disheartened by his recent run of remakes. Expect a rush on Victorian wedding gowns this Halloween.