Ebeneezer is playing in theaters at the time of review. Rated PG-13. Common Sense says 12+
STORY: B
Ti West pokes the darker corners of this classic tale.
PEOPLE: B+
Depp dials back the dingbat and delivers a satisfying Scrooge.
FILM NERD STUFF: B
The ghosts’ makeup and costumes bring the terror. Dark colors and tight lenses bring the mysterious sense of dread.
THEME: B
A more complicated Scrooge makes for a more poignant holiday lesson.
FINAL COMMENTS:
There’s no point in complaining about getting yet another version of A Christmas Carol. We know they’ll never stop making them.
As one would expect and hope, Ti West leans heavy into the story’s horror elements. The ghosts are many and they are hideously frightening. I like that aspect. And instead of transforming from a monster to a human, Scrooge is allowed to be human from the beginning. Depp fills him with more complexity than the goofy trailers would have you believe. The screenplay never excuses Scrooge’s ruthless actions—he’s still an evil jerk—, but it is empathetic in a way most versions aren’t.
We didn’t need another entry in the Scrooge-iverse, but kudos to Ti West’s Ebeneezer for doing enough to stand out from the holiday crowd.