The latest take on the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Story has arrived with “Ebenezer” The film stars Johnny Depp as the title characters and is under the Direction of Ti West.

The film follows the story of the miserly Scrooge (Depp) who eschews all things happy and pleasant in life and is full of sourness and misery for any of the joy associated with the Christmas season. His employee Bob Cratchit (Rupert Grint) is the frequent target of his vile moods as even wishing him a Merry Christmas or asking not to work on the Holiday is sure to get a litany of his wrath.

On Christmas Eve Scrooge gets a visit from his partner Jacob Marley (Ian McKellen) who despite being dead for seven years has come to warn his former partner that his fate is one of misery for his cold and uncaring ways in life. He informs Scrooge that he will be visited by three ghosts and will have a chance to avoid the same fate that has befallen Marley.

As any fans know, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, will arrive and show Scrooge painful memories and harsh realities in order to get him moving to a better future.

The film does a great job of expanding on the lore as we see the love of Scrooge’s youth, his relationship with his sister, Marley, and others and we also get a broader and fresh look at the Cratchit’s and his relatives which gives the film a greater context and continues to resonate nearly two-hundred years later.

While several aspects of the film are darker and veer into horror, Depp is absolutely amazing in his performance as he truly becomes Scrooge and gives a performance that underscores what a truly gifted performer he is.

The movie is fantastic and gives a deeper and moving take on the classic and the timeless messages of the film ring as loudly now as they did back then in this modern classic.

4.5 stars out of 5