Christmas turkey

In Charles Dickens' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge famously transforms himself from a miserly, misanthropic man into a charitable one. The story, which has become a Christmas tradition, features Scrooge being visited by three spirits over one eventful night. In a 2022 film adaptation, Johnny Depp takes on the role of Scrooge, but his performance is marred by onscreen issues.

The film, directed by Ti West and written by Nathaniel Halpern, attempts to give the classic tale a fresh twist, but ends up being a safe adaptation that is sometimes dull. Depp's portrayal of Scrooge is criticized for being a bad Johnny Depp impersonation, and the film's marketing campaign hinted at a risky revisionist take on the story.

While the film features some good work from its supporting cast and evokes a 19th-century London atmosphere, the central performance is pulled down by its hollow, mannered, mugging nature. The film's attempt at blending horror elements with the holiday story raises questions about its intended audience, and Depp's showiness and attention-grabbing tics often get in the way of the film's message to love one's fellow human beings.