Dan Bennett – Just when you thought spirit-heavy Halloween season had ended, “Ebenezer” offers ghastly apparitions into late November and most likely well into December.
The seasonal overlap gives us a film scarier and more chance-taking than any in the voluminous “A Christmas Carol” canon of varied entries – a collection certainly larger than we might imagine Charles Dickens might have imagined.
In “Ebenezer,” Johnny Depp plays the title character – we know him better as Scrooge – and he’s the miserly, humbug-spewing curmudgeon we recognize from a multitude of entries that have brought him to life (and all of those introducing him to a sneak peek at death). In each, as in this film, Scrooge gets more than his fair share of tough love to teach him the obvious: Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today? Namely, be kind and grateful.
The film opens with a scene introducing us to Ebenezer and his business partner, Marley (Ian McKellen), a character who gets some screen time while still alive for a change. The two of them whoop it up, at the expense of others, but that won’t last long. We know Marley has to keel over dead to get things started, creating the path for Scrooge to be visited by the three Ghosts, reliably known as Past, Present and Future.
It’s not just the era-hopping meant to draw our curiosity; in this film, it’s also how the ghosts are portrayed, and the fun and chilling (if you chill easily) visuals that accompany.
More time is spent than usual on how Scrooge became Scrooge, how the boy Ebenezer could not avoid the ridicule of other children, and lacked the emotional finesse to love the woman who should’ve been the love of his life.
Likewise, Scrooge must be taught that the way he treats his nephew – his only family – is a tragic error, and that his lack of gratitude for Bob Cratchit’s kindness is a major loss. The only thing left is the future, and it’s a scary one, indeed not just for Ebenezer, but for us as we take in those metaphor-inspired visuals.
“Ebenezer,” crafted for an older-child and adult audience, wows with its goosebump thrills, even if they edge close to upstaging the emotion.
Depp is both obviously cast and well cast, though, and director Ti West merges storytelling and atmosphere with skill. “Ebenezer” gives its intended audience – one and all – what they want.
“Ebenezer” B+
Director: Ti West
Starring: Johnny Depp, Ian McKellen, Rupert Grint
Rated: PG-13 (for frightening material)
Runtime: 1 hour, 56 minutes
