‘Ebenezer’ Review: Johnny Depp Gets a Creepily Effective Comeback Vehicle in Ti West’s Horror-Tinged Take on Dickens’ Yuletide Classic

Johnny Depp's recent adaptation of "Ebenezer" falls short of expectations, failing to add anything new to the already overdone "A Christmas Carol" story. The film features a familiar tale of Ebenezer Scrooge (Depp), a miser who is visited by ghosts and eventually becomes a changed man. Despite some minor tweaks to the classic narrative, such as Scrooge's final moments with Bob Cratchit (Rupert Grint), the overall story remains unchanged.

The screenplay, written by Nathaniel Halpern, is criticized for its lack of humor and its reliance on second-screen dialogue that assumes the audience will be looking at their phones rather than the screen. The film also struggles with tone, as its attempts at humor fall flat and its emotional core feels unearned. The performance of Johnny Depp is a significant issue, as his portrayal of Scrooge often feels reminiscent of his iconic role as Captain Jack Sparrow.

This similarity is particularly apparent in Depp's smirk and bombastic oration, which detract from the character's intended melancholy.

While Andrea Riseborough delivers a standout performance as Christmas Present, her visual impact is overshadowed by the film's broader flaws. The film's final interactions between Scrooge and his nephew, Fred, remain underwhelming, despite the presence of Sam Claflin's passionate performance. Ultimately, "Ebenezer" joins the list of forgotten attempts to capitalize on the holiday box office, falling short of the many successful adaptations of "A Christmas Carol" that have come before it. The film was released exclusively in theaters on November 13.