This film is based on the 1979 musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Stephen Sondheim. The main character, Sweeney Todd (Benjamin Barker) is played by Johnny Depp and Mrs. Lovett is played by Helena Bonham Carter. This musical centers around Sweeney Todd’s thirst for revenge. He has come back to his hometown to get his revenge for his wife and daughter, along the way he meets Mrs. Lovett. Mrs. Lovett realizes who Sweeney Todd really is and decides to take part in his route for revenge. She becomes an accomplice because she has fallen in love with him.
This story is very dark and based on death and revenge. The lyrics of the songs show yearning, anger, and sorrow. It isn’t for the faint of heart. There is blood in almost every scene, and there are plenty of murders throughout the film. Sweeney Todd believes that his family is dead and knows exactly who is at fault for sending him away. The villain of the story is Judge Turpin. Judge Turpin was jealous of Sweeney Todd’s wife. He tried to take her away many times but she had refused. So, he did what he knew would guarantee him her hand. He exiled Sweeney Todd and forced her to be with him. He finally got the woman he wanted and as well as her child. When Sweeney came back home, Mrs. Lovett told him that his wife and child are dead. Sweeney’s main goal is to kill Judge Turpin and get revenge for his family and himself. Sweeney, used to be a celebrity barber when he was known as Benjamin Barker. So, he opened a barbershop and used his skills to gain fame once again so one day Judge Turpin would arrive on his doorstep. He planned on killing him as soon as he sat on the leather chair. In the meantime, Sweeney began killing some of the people who he believed were bad and practiced getting rid of the body with the help of Mrs. Lovett. On the day that he finally had Judge Turpin in his hands, he was ready to slit his throat when they are interrupted. Sweeney then plans another plot to get him in his grasp.
As the story goes on, Sweeney finds out that Judge Turpin’s daughter is really his own and that she is alive and well. He learns that the judge has been keeping her locked inside all this time so no one would know her real identity. He also realizes that the crazy homeless lady always outside of Mrs. Lovett’s shop is his wife who has gone insane because she tried to kill herself with poison. Sweeney becomes furious and blames it all on Mrs. Lovett for not telling him the truth.
This story is definitely a dark tale, but it shows how much a person can love and what they are willing to do for those that are loved. The plot unfolds on a very elegant manner and there are no boring parts throughout the film. It also jumps into other people’s viewpoints, so the audience can really understand the whole story. There is no happy ending in this story, but the music is catchy and well written. I highly recommend watching this film, it is a movie that I will never get tired of rewatching.
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