November 13, 2026 · Watch the official trailer
It's hard to imagine a tale of a man being haunted by ghosts as anything less than a horror film or psychological thriller. Yet Charles Dickens' classic tale, which inspired everything from Dr. Seuss' Grinch to generations of children embracing the spirit of Christmas, has become a staple of modern pop culture. In the hands of director Ti West, whose "X" trilogy redefined contemporary slasher horror, there's nothing particularly friendly about the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. Through the lens of beleaguered, eccentric actor Johnny Depp, there hasn't been a version of "A Christmas Carol" quite as audacious or haunting as "Ebenezer."
Nothing is exceptionally new about the narrative, which finds a curmudgeonly British penny-pincher humbugging his way through the holiday season year after year, only to be visited by three ghosts determined to set him on a better path. But "Ebenezer," through West's lens and Depp's committed performance, strips away much of the nonsensical humor of Dickens' classic and heightens the existential foreboding of its Gothic drama. The result is a cinematic experience that keeps adults on the edge of their seats while proving largely haunting, if not nightmare-inducing, for children whose first introduction to the Dickensian classic comes through a theatrical screening of "Ebenezer."
Layered under mounds of makeup and heavy costuming, Depp is at his usual level of bombast, making the classic Scrooge character just this side of mustache-twirling villainy. Yet it's only when the haunting begins that Depp is able to take the formulaic Scrooge caricature and imbue him with layers of complexity, allowing audiences to truly feel the loss that serves as the emotional catalyst for his cold, heartless nature. It's a turn that will no doubt revitalize Depp's fledgling career and practically forces audiences to rally behind his Ebenezer as he's thrust outside the comfort zone of his simple holiday hatred.
No matter how unique and bespoke the director's cinematic vision, "Ebenezer" simply wouldn't work with another lead, as Depp's distinctive cadence and physicality reinforce the bizarreness of this Tim Burton-like dramedy. It's only because both actor and director are truly going for it that the film works as a whole. A lesser version of "Ebenezer," featuring an equally bombastic Nicolas Cage and an apathetic director, wouldn't prove nearly as successful, nor would an audacious filmmaker guiding a bland, uninspired performance. This version of the Dickensian classic is the perfect amalgamation of the right actor and filmmaker meeting at the right moment in their careers to provide audiences with just the right amount of twisted Christmas bliss.
"Ebenezer's" deep and talented ensemble cast is anchored by the ever-iconic work of Sir Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley. While McKellen only factors into the film's opening 20 minutes or so, the gravitas and credibility he brings to both the role and the project as a whole give "Ebenezer" the sort of stamp of approval audiences need early to buy into the baroque eccentricities the subsequent 90 minutes have to offer.
Andrea Riseborough and "Severance" star Tramell Tillman are both exceptional in their haunting portrayals of the Ghost of Christmas Past and Ghost of Christmas Present, respectively. Riseborough twists the knife into Ebenezer's psyche much in the same way Samantha Morton's Circe does in Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey." Tillman, for his part, feels ripped from the cloth of David Lowery's equally stylized "The Green Knight," blending nature and humanity to its core in order to provide a moral lesson. The remainder of the ensemble, including Sam Claflin as Ebenezer's nephew Fred, Daisy Ridley as Emily Cratchit and "Harry Potter" star Rupert Grint as the classic Bob Cratchit, provides just the right amount of memorable energy without taking away from the singularity of Depp's bizarrely on-point performance.
"Ebenezer" feels exceptionally in line with a Tim Burton film, thanks largely to West's adept hand behind the camera, creating a vision of Victorian London that's both regally bespoke and hauntingly off-center. West's horror roots truly showcase themselves as each ghost is introduced to Ebenezer, with sequences that are equal parts chilling and fear-inducing. Although audiences familiar with the tale know exactly what's coming at every turn, there's a lingering twinge of horror that keeps even adults on the edge of their seats.
Especially impressive is the film's commitment to practical effects, with production designer Eve Stewart and cinematographer Checco Varese bringing West and Depp's cold yet inviting cinematic landscape to life. The setting constantly feels real to the touch, yet just outside the viewer's grasp, creating an immersive world that's both beautifully realized and deeply unsettling. "Ebenezer" features some of the year's most striking individual frames, be it an extreme close-up of Depp enveloped in fear over his uncertain future or a terrifying, pupil-less Riseborough glaring through the camera lens at the audience itself.
Unequivocally the most twisted version of the classic Dickens novella in recent memory, "Ebenezer" is an ideal adaptation for audiences intimately familiar with every plot point and a largely horrifying experience for those who have no idea what's coming next. Likely to become a staple of holiday cinema for years to come, "Ebenezer" will fare far better through endless repeat viewings at home than it does as a first-time theatrical experience and is largely recommended only for families who have already experienced this classic tale.
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