Tim Burton's Films and the Church

It's kind of strange that no one seems to have written anything about this before (although we doubt this is an original piece of writing - try Googling it). This humble writer used to be a huge Tim Burton fan when I was about 15, he probably got me into paying attention to directors and film in general. I have to admit, I have found his last few films pretty displeasing, but I'll always have a soft spot for him. The point of this post is to look at his portrayal of religion in his films as a one-dimensional embodiment of all that is bad about the world.

Edward Scissorhands is the first film that springs to mind. If it wasn't for the religious fanatic (Esmerelda?) then basically none of the bad stuff in the film would have happened. She warns all the women that there's something wrong with Edward, and the next thing is they're all organising a lynch mob to try and stop him. None of the other characters in the film mention religion, she is the only one who is portrayed as a religious person, and she is the only person who is unwelcoming towards Edward (at first, anyway). Religion in the film is basically portrayed as a cult, intolerant and closed-minded. A particular theme running through Tim Burton's portrayal of religion is that the religious characters often see the worst in things that are different, assuming they are demons or from hell, such as Edward, or as we shall see, the dead in Corpse Bride.

In Coprse Bride, religion is also not given a good name. The priest in the film the Pastor (Galswells) is not a nice character. He tricks Victoria into believing he will help her find out about Victor's marriage to the Corpse Bride, Emily, but only hands her over to her horrid family who locks her away to marry the murderer. He also tries to prevent the dead from entering the church, despite the fact that all the villagers realise that they are not evil or from hell, they are just their loved ones. Once again, the church is portrayed as intolerant and close minded, not to mention the fact that the Pastor is definitely quite sinister - Burton's casting of Christopher Lee (a horror movie veteran) as Pastor Galswells confirms this intention.

Sleepy Hollow presents a much more disturbing view of the Church. Set in flashbacks, the character of Ichabod Crane's past is examined. His mother is shown as a loving, spirited woman, but she is clearly a pagan, or some sort of 'child of nature'. She dances in the trees and puts flowers on the fire - presumably for 'magic' purposes. The Young Ichabod is not damaged by her, in fact, it's all innocent fun. Until his crazily religious father turns up, chastising the mother for her lifestyle, in once scene actually using a Bible. The father is shown to be an intimidating man, who Ichabod is afraid of. It culminates with Ichabod discovering the body of his mother in an iron maidan (torture device) in a Church. Yup, that's right, a Church. What more could you want?

Did Tim Burton have some sort of horrifying experience of the Church, or religion, or does he just not like it? Are his films trying to preach something? Who knows, but it's become a bit of a habit...

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