Tim Burton has become synonymous with Halloween, having left an indelible mark on the genre with numerous eerie classics over the years. Despite this storied association, it’s interesting to note that The Nightmare Before Christmas, a film as much about Christmas as it is about Halloween—and one that Burton did not actually direct—is the only one that consistently enjoys re-releases each year. You might even find it playing in your local theater this weekend, as it has gained nearly half of its total box office earnings in the years following its 1993 debut. Warner Bros. has finally jumped into the re-release trend, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Burton’s similarly spooky stop-motion film, Corpse Bride. Yet, there are a host of other Burton films ripe for revival, including Frankenweenie, both Beetlejuice films, and Dark Shadows. Among these, perhaps the most fitting for Halloween is Sleepy Hollow, Burton’s adaptation of Washington Irving’s classic tale. Ironically, this film was initially released in November 1999, right after Halloween, closer to Thanksgiving. Despite this timing, it was a major success, marking Burton’s return to form after the polarizing Mars Attacks! Surprisingly, it has yet to become a staple of seasonal re-releases, leaving it to fans to revisit it at the appropriate time of year.

Why Should You Watch Sleepy Hollow Tonight?

The motivation to watch Sleepy Hollow isn’t solely to rectify its original post-Halloween release date. This film is steeped in a haunting ambiance that surpasses many of Burton’s other works. While it takes liberties with Irving’s original narrative—more faithfully adapted in Disney’s animated version—the film offers its own thrilling interpretation. Here, Ichabod Crane, portrayed by Johnny Depp (whose involvement may give some pause), is a forward-thinking New York City constable in the late 18th century. His skepticism of superstition lands him in the isolated town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a chilling series of murders involving decapitation. The locals attribute these to the legendary Headless Horseman, a notion Crane initially dismisses as mere folklore. In the course of his investigation, he becomes enchanted by Katrina Van Tassel, played by Christina Ricci, and stirs conflict with the suspicious townsfolk. While it’s no secret that Burton introduces elements of the supernatural, the film also crafts a compelling murder-mystery narrative.

As with many of Burton’s films, the plot of Sleepy Hollow is often secondary to its atmospheric allure. The film immerses viewers in a world of twisted trees, perpetual fog, rustling leaves, and stunning cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki, who would later win an Oscar. The visual style is a homage to the cherished Hammer horror films of the 1950s through the 1970s—a treasure trove that can be explored further on streaming platforms like Tubi. Notably, Sleepy Hollow is one of the few R-rated movies in Burton’s repertoire, alongside Sweeney Todd, characterized by its vivid display of blood. As the film progresses, Christopher Walken’s terrifying portrayal of the villain adds to the gothic frenzy, complete with carriage chases, fiery destruction, and more of the film’s signature beheadings.

The story, as is often the case with Burton, feels secondary. The world of this movie, with gnarled old trees, endless supplies of fog, perpetually rustling leaves, and some of the most gorgeous not-precisely-black-and-white cinematography ever captured (by future Oscar winner Emmanuel Lubezki), is enveloping and tactile as Burton pays tribute to the beloved Hammer horror films of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. (If you get a taste for them, some of them are streaming for free on Tubi, of course!) This is also the rare R-rated Burton movie — just this and Sweeney Todd — which means that the splashes of color come from the vivid reds of consistent bloodflow. By the time a sharp-toothed Christopher Walken turns up as the full-bodied version of the villain, the movie goes into full-tilt gothic mayhem, with carriage chases, burning buildings, and even more beheadings.

As such, Sleepy Hollow isn’t Burton’s most emotionally complex movies; there’s some neat stuff about the turn of the century meant to parallel the film’s initial 1999 release, but it’s not much interested in exploring the nature of fear or anything like that. Instead, it’s a fun alternate telling of a familiar story. It also features one of Burton’s more restrained collaborations with Depp, who plays Ichabod Crane as a bright man who is nonetheless more comfortable analyzing grotesquerie from a distance; faced with danger, he consistently places a woman or child in front of himself. One of said women is Ricci, in one of her more better big-studio parts; she makes an ethereal yet mysterious figure for Crane to puzzle over.

It’s become a tedious internet sport in over the past 20 years to debate when Burton made his last “good” movie. There’s actually good stuff all across the director’s filmography, so don’t trust anyone who tries to make that particular case for Sleepy Hollow, which would involve ignoring Big Fish, or Sweeney Todd, or Frankenweenie, among others. But there’s certainly a case that Sleepy Hollow ends the first big phase of Burton’s career alongside the ’90s that closed out a month and change later. In retrospect, it feels like a grand farewell to his most obvious inspirations, clearing the slate for some less obvious projects. It’s precisely that archetypal nature that makes it such a great perennial watch, featuring some all-time great Halloween decor.

Jesse Hassenger (@rockmarooned) is a writer living in Brooklyn. He’s a regular contributor to The A.V. Club, Polygon, and The Week, among others. He podcasts at www.sportsalcohol.com, too.

Stream Sleepy Hollow on Paramount+