Obsessing over a Tim Burton film is never the question here. It’s the right answer exactly. From stark scene lighting and adept use of dark shadows to featuring a lone hero and hellish, nightmare-like settings, some believe that Burton’s films are a genre in themselves which is cultivated carefully with well-planned cinematic tropes.
Here are Tim Burton favorites you should be binge-watching:
SLEEPYHOLLOW (1999)
Sleepy Hollow is the kind of Halloween movie you’ll watch all year round. Based on Washington Irving’s 1819 Gothic horror, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Constable Ichabod Crane is sent from New York to the rural area of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of gruesome murders. Upon arrival, he finds that the locals are steeped in superstition, claiming the decapitated victims fell prey to the demonic Headless Horseman. Sleepy Hollow was a standout addition to the Tim Burton catalogue in terms of boldness and bravery.
THE CORPSE BRIDE (2005)
The Corpse Bride is an absolute work of art. It follows the story of a 19-year-old boy named Victor Vandort, who has been roped into a marriage of convenience to Victoria Everglot, a lady from a bankrupt aristocratic family. However, unable to remember his wedding vows due to nerves, he steals off to the forest so he can practice them in peace. With the use of animated using skeleton puppets with wind-up faces and silicone skin, the Victorian Gothic twist paired with the stunning animation gives this lighthearted horror flick such a unique flair – an absolute must-see for any animation lover.
BATMAN (1989)
With so many Batman movies out there, only a select few have become truly iconic, and Tim Burton’s rendition of the Dark Knight is undoubtedly among them. Alongside an incredible performance from Micheal Keaton as Bruce Wayne, we also have Jack Nicolson in his incredible incarnation of the Joker, with his iconic cackle and epic trademark line, always delivered before he deals the fatal blow. Burton’s epic throw down between Batman and the beloved Clown Prince Of Crime never gets old.
BEETLEJUICE (1989)
Now is the perfect time to revisit this classic 80s horror-comedy. The story revolves around when Mr and Mrs Maitland die suddenly in a freak accident, their spirits are bound to their home. It doesn’t seem so bad at first until the house is sold to a modern artist who wants to alter their beloved country house beyond recognition. Stuck for options, they seek the help of a shady character named Beetlejuice, who specializes in helping the deceased in their qualms with the living. Beetlejuice is Tim Burton at his wackiest. A great movie for the more fun-loving Halloween fan, it’s peppered with all the mad humor and contorted aesthetic. Fun fact: there’s Beetlejuice 2 in the works. Fingers crossed that the next installment, currently set to release in 2025, will live up to the original.
VINCENT (1982)
Vincent was a pivotal moment in Tim Burton’s career, being the first appearance of the distinctive stop-motion style that became such an iconic feature of his work in the years that followed. Little Vincent Malloy is a quiet, well-behaved boy. However, he secretly dreams of being just like Vincent Price and loses himself in an influx of vividly macabre daydreams. Narrated by Vincent Price himself, this 6-minute stop-motion short is a simple but beautiful exploration of childhood imagination geared towards those fascinated by the darker facets of life. This quick animated short deserve a spot on your binge list.
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990)
Edward Scissorhands is such an iconic film. It follows the story of Edward, a synthetic man created by an inventor who died before Edward could be finished, leaving him with the facial complexion of a corpse, leather skin from the neck down and long, lethal blades where his hands should be. Left alone with his father’s corpse, confused as to why he wouldn’t wake up, Edward is found years later by a kind saleslady who takes him in. Edward then adjusts to his life in the outside world—but things are taking a turn when he’s blamed for a crime he didn’t commit. This is indeed a Tim Burton epic, making us reflect on how we, as human beings behave when faced with something new.
