With the recent release of Tim Burton's 'Frankenweenie' and Halloween upon us, it seems as good as any to remember why Tim Burton can - arguably! - lay claim to the title of darkest imagination sitting in a director's chair today, with his gleeful blending of fantasy and horror. Exhibit A - these five films... can you think of any other director more suitable for Halloween?
Dark Shadows (2012)
Barnabas (Johnny Depp) is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy...until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death by turning him into a vampire and then burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin.
Edward Scissor Hands (1990)
Eccentric inventor (Vincent Price) assembles a synthetic youth named Edward (Johnny Depp). Unfortunately, the inventor dies before he is finished, leaving Edward with metal scissors for hands. He is taken in by Peg Boggs (Dianne Weist), an Avon lady who takes pity on him. Everything seems to be looking better for Edward, but soon things begin to take a change for the worse when Edward is accused of a serious crime.
Beetle Juice (1988)
Upon arriving in the outer offices of Heaven, newlyweds Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam (Alec Baldwin) find that, before they can earn their wings, they must occupy their old house as ghosts for the next fifty years. Alas, the house is now owned by insufferable yuppies. Adam and Barbara do their best to scare the couple away by employing a veteran scaremeister: Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton). However, Beetlejuice has more in mind that just helping.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Jack Skellington (voice of Chris Sarandon), the president of Halloweenland, becomes bored with his job. After discovering Christmas Land, he tries to get the resident bats, ghouls, and goblins to help put on Christmas, instead of Halloween. Unfortunately, the town struggle with the concept and its people put Santa in great jeopardy.
Corpse Bride (2005)
Victor (voice of Johnny Depp) lives in a small European village in the 19th century, where he is pledged to marry Victoria (voice of Emily Watson). Victor goes into the woods to practice his vows. Just as soon as he gets them right, he finds himself married to Emily (voice of Helena Bonham Carter), the corpse bride. So two brides, one groom - who will Victor pick?
Dark Shadows, Beetle Juice and Corpse Bride are all available on Blu-ray™, DVD and to download from iTunes® now! Which one of these works best for Halloween?