Despite being a fan of director Ti West's, I wasn't particularly excited when I learned his first post-MaXXXine feature was going to be an adaptation of A Christmas Carol, starring Johnny Depp as Ebenezer Scrooge. For one thing, it just seemed unnecessary. And for another, I've been over Johnny Depp's shtick for a while.
But Ebenezer was surprising in a few ways. There had been rumors, perhaps based on the title, that this would be some kind of "prequel" to A Christmas Story, centered on Ebenezer's earlier life. But no, this is a pretty straightforward adaptation of the classic story. There are a few additions, including a glimpse into the partnership between Jacob Marley and Ebenezer, and a look into the life of Ebenezer's lost love Belle, but for the most part, this is a faithful adaptation that even maintains much of the story's original dialogue.
And while Johnny Depp doesn't completely tamper down his penchant for mugging, he's far less annoying than I was expecting him to be. His Ebenezer is as cranky as you'd expect, but Depp is effective during his "transformation" because it is not a complete 180 from his previous self. You can still see the Scrooge in him. It's just better balanced.
Being a Ti West film, I was expecting (hoping?) for a more horrifying take on what has always been, firstly, a ghost story, and secondly, a Christmas story. West certainly does play up the gothic horror. His Victorian London is a dark and dreary place; the potential for ghosts seem to hide in ever alley and foreboding corner.
But the movie is never truly terrifying.The best ghostly visit is also the first, with Andrea Riseborough as the Ghost of Christmas Past. Her pale, shrouded visage, complete with opaque white eyes, is genuinely creepy. Tramell Tillman's turn as the Ghost of Christmas Present isn't scary so much as it is disturbing, a dying ghost devouring what he still can from life before he crumbles to dust. (The Ghost of Christmas Future is presented the same way as it has been through countless versions before this. It was here that I was most surprised by the lack of scares.)
And while it feels like A Christmas Carol has been done to death, I don't think there has actually been a big Hollywood production of the story since The Muppet Christmas Carol back in 1992 (which remains one of my most favorite adaptations, ever). Ebenezer may not be the Christmas Carol I come back to year after year, but it was not unworthy of a visit.
