MANILA, Philippines - Why Jack the Ripper is more popular than Sweeney Todd?at least on this side of the world?is mildly bemusing.

But the tandem of Tim Burton, whose gothic imaginings gave rise to movies such as ?Edward Scissorhands,? ?Sleepy Hollow? and ?The Corpse Bride,? and Johnny Depp, who has worked with the director in those films, ought to change that with their sixth pairing in ?Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.?

Based on the legend of a barber/slasher who terrorized 18th-century London, the film is not one to shy from use of extreme blood spillage and an even more extreme way of showing how Todd (Depp) does it.

From the onset, his sole purpose of getting revenge against Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) can be clearly seen in Todd?s face. Turpin had Todd sent to jail on false charges just so the judge could steal his wife and baby daughter.

Upon his return, Todd goes back to Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham-Carter), his former landlady, and sets up a barbershop atop her meat-pie shop. This is where Todd plots his schemes to lure Turpin and extract his revenge.

Visual gorefest

Juxtaposing hauntingly attractive melody into the visual gorefest is the film?s obvious come-on.

Depp, who has been known for his choice of sometimes strange acting roles, once again finds himself fit to a T with the Todd character. He brings more to the screen as he begins to lovingly sing ?My Friend? to his razor blades.

The entire performance gives off an air of what is to inevitably befall his victims. Credit the music and lyrics to Stephen Sondheim, whose musical ?Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street? along with Hugh Wheeler, has won a Tony Award.

It is, therefore, hard not to feel for Todd, a formerly ?beautiful and naïve barber? who used to go by the name of Benjamin Barker.

Being wronged big time and developing a taste for revenge brought out an overwrought persona that is to become Todd. From start to finish, Depp is nothing short of magnificent.

On the other hand, the same could not be said about Carter, at least in the early goings.

Seeing her sing ?The Worst Pies in London? felt like watching the worst way of introducing a character into the story. At times, it was hard not to cringe at the entire scene?and it wasn?t because of the cockroaches. Either the performance was meant to come out that way, flat and unfeeling, or Carter was just starting to feel it out.

As the film progresses, so does Carter, transforming the lovestruck character into a vital part in the story telling.

Adding depth to the story is Todd?s now teenage daughter Johanna (Jayne Wisener), who is being kept in the house of Turpin.

She is seen by Anthony (Jamie Campbell Bower), a young sailor who crossed paths with Todd while at sea and has formed some sort of friendship with the lead character. Anthony then makes it his mission to steal Johanna.