Universal's Ebenezer, a horror-infused adaptation of A Christmas Carol starring Johnny Depp, is being positioned as the actor's comeback vehicle.
The film, directed by Ti West, opened in theaters yesterday and blends classic ghost-story elements with the director's signature indie-horror style, featuring atmospheric sound design and visual references to late-1970s chillers.
Depp, who has been accused of domestic abuse in previous legal cases, appears in elaborate prosthetics and delivers a performance that some reviewers describe as restrained, while the narrative's emphasis on Scrooge's redemption has sparked debate about the movie's role in rehabilitating the star's public image.