Gasps are heard throughout the dark packed cinema as the opening line is in song, yes everyone, it's a musical. I'm not talking a Moulin Rouge style musical made up from chart toppers we know, I'm talking full on orchestral numbers where characters intertwine and dialogue plays second fiddle. Tim Burton, Johnny Depp and Sweeney Todd are a match made in heaven to create such a dark and gothic box- office hit that's shrouded in shadow.

This is black comedy at its best, publicized most as Depp serenades his audience whilst slitting throat after throat in his barber's chair.

Depp's organic and untrained singing voice is both chilling and fitting. Think David Bowie with a hangover playing the Artful Dodger and you're halfway there. Sweeney Todd features many of our best loved actors, Helena Bonham Carter as the accomplice pie maker Mrs Lovett, Alan Rickman as the villainous Judge Turpin, and Sacha Baron Cohen (who gets the unfortunate honour of becoming Todd's first victim).

If you don't like blood (albeit fake blood) do not see this film! However if you're on a New Years drop-a -dress-size diet, it'll definitely curb your cravings for meat pies.

Showing at cinemas now certificate 18.