The film is placed in the Drama, Musical and Thriller Genres. It is firstly a recreation of Stephen Sonheim's stage show, so naturally is has a place in the musical genre. It has comedic, melodramatic, slight slapstick and Gothic elements as well.
It is accepted as being a Horror, although it is done in a satirical way, and is more an art-film than being frightening in terms of gore, for example. It is very stylized in the way that the horror element has been done, and ultimately, this stylization and level of bloody violence is essential to the story. The plot does follow " The Demon Barber" on his journey for revenge and does have graphic elements ( Sweeney cutting his victim's throats) but it also has romance and sadness, which makes me feel that it is more of a romantic tragedy; in that Sweeney's motivation for revenge/killing comes about as a result of someone else's corrupt actions.
Stephen Sondheim believes that it is a story of revenge and how it consumes a vengeful person. "…what the show is really about is obsession."
Director's View: ( on it being said that this is a horror-movie version of the musical..)
I don't quite see it that way. To me, it's more of a tragic romance - the tragedy of (Sweeney's) life, the tragedy of (Mrs. Lovett's) unrequited love for him. Everybody's at cross purposes. That, to me, is the grand melodramatic tragedy.
The tone is very Burton-esque; dark, quirky and "odd". The opening has use of very few colours, or colours with positive connotation. At first, seeming as though it may be filmed in black and white, the vivid red colour that is used emphasizes important objects which relate to plot and character. Grime, filth, and a sense of delinquency are shown also through the use of lighting, shadow and music. We do not see any characters or hear any dialogue in the first few minutes, which reinforces the idea of the town being deserted and dilapidated- or perhaps how the happy place and home has changed since Todd has been imprisoned. We can pick up a lot from the set-up of the opening sequence; we really see London through Sweeney's eyes or see it how he has imagined it will be when he returns. As Sweeney sings, " A great black pit". A place now so depressing, bleak, and able to drain the livelihood from oneself. The viewer is intrigued, and wants to meet the characters through whose eyes we first see London. I felt as though I were plunged into the dusky, peculiar and unpredictable world. The combination of visual elements and the music offered me a chance to escape into the bleak, old-fashioned setting.
In the first minutes of the next scene we are introduced to two important characters and their views on London. Firstly, Anthony Hope, the young sailor who is said to have found Todd floating at sea after his escape from prison and who has helped Sweeney get to London. We are also introduced to Sweeney Todd; whose difference in character is immediately evident. This part is both upbeat and has a sense of wonderment (from Anthony) and a harsh, depressing tone (from Sweeney). Sweeney may have had a similar view of London when he lived there with his wife and child, but is now a broken and demented man. The strong use of shadow, lighting, colour and lyric show these differences and enhances the mood in this part of the film.
In the first minutes of the next scene we are introduced to two important characters and their views on London. Firstly, Anthony Hope, the young sailor who is said to have found Todd floating at sea after his escape from prison and who has helped Sweeney get to London. We are also introduced to Sweeney Todd; whose difference in character is immediately evident. This part is both upbeat and has a sense of wonderment (from Anthony) and a harsh, depressing tone (from Sweeney). Sweeney may have had a similar view of London when he lived there with his wife and child, but is now a broken and demented man. The strong use of shadow, lighting, colour and lyric show these differences and enhances the mood in this part of the film.
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