Johnny Depp returns to A-list status in 116-minute horror adaptation
Ti West’s dark take on Charles Dickens’ classic features a PG-13 rating and a cast including Ian McKellen and Rupert Grint.
By Nikolai Morales ·
Johnny Depp has secured a major film role that critics describe as an effective vehicle for his return to top-tier stardom. The movie, titled Ebenezer, adapts Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with a horror focus that distinguishes it from previous holiday adaptations. The film aims to restore the actor’s professional standing after a period of reduced visibility in the industry.
Director Ti West brings a Gothic tone to the story, drawing on his background with horror films like The House of Devil and the X trilogy. The resulting film functions largely as a horror picture, featuring jump scares, grotesque visuals, and ghostly creatures. The production includes a scene where the character Scrooge urinates himself out of fear, a moment that underscores the film’s commitment to darker themes.
The cast includes Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley and Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit. Other actors in the film are Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, and Tramell Tillman. Screenwriter Nathaniel Halpern expands on the original novella by adding backstory, such as a pre-credits prologue showing Marley alive and displaying a nasty personality. The film is divided into sections called staves, mirroring the structure of Dickens’ original work.
The narrative follows the familiar plot of Scrooge being visited by three ghosts. Andrea Riseborough plays the Ghost of Christmas Past, depicted with corpse-like makeup. Tramell Tillman portrays the Ghost of Christmas Present, a figure who physically decays during his visit to reveal creatures trapped within him. Robert Strange plays the Ghost of Christmas Future, an apparition who introduces himself by releasing a crow from his mouth.
Depp wears prosthetic makeup and facial hair for the role, delivering a performance that reviewers compare to Albert Finney’s 1970 musical interpretation. While the acting is broad rather than subtle, the actor’s charisma remains evident. The film balances its frightening elements with moments of genuine emotion, particularly in scenes depicting Scrooge’s relationship with his nephew Fred and his pity for Tiny Tim.
The production features detailed visual design and a runtime of 1 hour and 56 minutes. It carries a PG-13 rating, making it the first version of the story not recommended for young children. Paramount Pictures will distribute the film. The final sequence shows Scrooge’s redemption as he visits his family with a goose, a moment that reviewers note provides a lighter contrast to the preceding horror elements.
