The Next Reel Film Podcast

"You are young. Life has been kind to you. You will learn." With these words early on in Tim Burton's 2007 film adaptation of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, we instantly get a sense of the dark place that the character of Sweeney Todd, played marvelously by Johnny Depp, has come from.

Show Notes

"You are young. Life has been kind to you. You will learn."

With these words early on in Tim Burton's 2007 film adaptation of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, we instantly get a sense of the dark place that the character of Sweeney Todd, played marvelously by Johnny Depp, has come from. This isn't your typical happy-go-lucky musical. No, this is dark and bloody and beautifully grim. It's the perfect story for Burton and ends up being one of our favorite films of his, the final film in our Richard D. Zanuck series. Join us—Pete Wright and Andy Nelson—for this episode of Rash Pixel's "Movies We Like" as we delve into everything about this film.

We chat about the stellar performances by Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall and everyone else. We discuss the amazing Stephen Sondheim and the surprisingly long history of the story of Todd. We chat about the blood and the grand guignol style Burton uses for the film, but also about the melancholy and heartbreak present in the story. We bring up Depp's singing and what it does for the film and talk about the rain of blood in the title sequence and how it perfectly sets us up for the film. And, of course, we talk about Zanuck, his involvement in the film, and how challenging it was to get the film made. It's a horror and it's a marvel, and it's definitely a movie we like. Listen in!


Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!

Check out our MERCH PAGE for TNR apparel, stickers, mugs and more!

Visit our ORIGINALS PAGE to buy books, comics, plays, or other source material for the movies we've talked about on the show. By doing so, you get to find your next book to dig into and help us out in the process as a portion comes back our way. Enjoy!

Star your own podcast journey with the best host in the business. Try Transistor today!

Here’s where you can find us around the internet:
We spend hours every week putting this show together for you, our dear listener, and it would sure mean a lot to us if you considered becoming a member. When you do, you get early access to shows, ad-free episodes, and a TON of bonus content. To those who already support the show, thank you. To those who don’t yet: what are you waiting for?
Become a Member here: $5 monthly or $55 annually

What are some other ways you can support us and show your love? Glad you asked!

What is The Next Reel Film Podcast?

The Next Reel team has been dedicated to reviews, news, and commentary on world film for a decade. This podcast is The Next Reel master feed including all the episodes of The Next Reel, Trailer Rewind, The Film Board, The Speakeasy, and the other shorts, interviews, and specials we've produced over the years.