'Ebenezer' Review
Release Date: 11/13/26 [Cinemas]
Genre: Comedy. Drama. Fantasy. Holiday.
MPAA: Rated PG13.
Distributor: Paramount Pictures.
The Verdict: A Must-See
It's interesting that Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is considered the most cherished fictional Christmas tale. The story features a gloomy Gothic atmosphere, which is only lightened at the conclusion by the spirit of holiday joy. To partake in the Christmas feast with Bob Cratchit and witness Scrooge's transformation, we must first endure significant trials: the ghost of Marley, chains rattling, numerous graveyards and skeletons, as well as themes of poverty and suffering, greed and coldness, and ultimately the spirits of Christmas, culminating in the figure of the Grim Reaper.
This story has been adapted numerous times. Some iterations lean into lighter or comedic tones, as seen in the Muppets or Bill Murray's corporate version. These gentler attempts were meant to soften the horrific edges of Dickens’ story. Director Ti West has decided to run in the complete opposite direction with Ebenezer. This is a frightening film, with unsettling visuals, ghastly make-up, and occasional jump scares. The first half is drenched in the bleakness of muted blues and grays, ceding space only to shadows and grimness. There is no holiday cheer to be seen for the first hour, but by the end, the frost melts off the screen, as the finale offers warmth that is truly earned.
The film pulls the stave motif from the book's chapters, mimicking a musical carol, announcing each frightening act with bold red text. The traditional Christmas message is woven into the narrative, but it doesn't come packaged in a cozy family film; it seeps into a horrific gothic thriller. West’s choice ekes out originality from a story already explored so thoroughly, making the emotional payoff even stronger.
Johnny Depp steps into the lead of this cautionary tale as Ebenezer Scrooge. In the last decade, Depp has accrued more baggage than film roles, making this his first big outing in some time. And it shows. Amid the atmospheric gloom, Depp injects strong theatrical energy, full of quirkiness and dry humor. Still, his performance echoes what he's done before with similar characters rather than breaking new ground. His performance fits into West’s film, which is what matters most. It's a passable turn from Depp, even if it feels less like a fresh interpretation and more like a leftover character from a Tim Burton set.
Ti West surrounds Depp with a gloriously overqualified ensemble. We open with Scrooge and his partner, Jacob Marley (Sir Ian McKellen), taunting Bob Cratchit (Rupert Grint) with malice and contempt. McKellen, who finally gets to play Marley while he still has a pulse, is efficacious as his eventual ghost warns Ebenezer about posthumous chains. Grint’s Cratchit brings a weary, underpaid resilience, making him look like the world’s most sympathetic middle-management casualty. Andrea Riseborough’s Ghost of Christmas Past is a haunting presence, terrifying the frame like a Victorian corpse bride. Tramell Tillman’s Ghost of Christmas Present is an absolute standout. Tillman channels the deadpan energy of a deliciously impatient cosmic HR rep racing against the clock. Sam Claflin as Scrooge’s nephew Fred and his wife Clara (Daisy Ridley) channel wholesome couple energy, weaponizing festive optimism against a man who prefers misery.
From a script written by Nathaniel Halpern, Ebenezer spends extra time exploring Scrooge’s past trauma, including his sister’s death and his doomed romance. This extra layer adds muscle to the story, giving it somber psychological weight and a stronger redemption arc. West uses this device in smart tandem with genuine horror. The unnerving, haunted tone makes Scrooge’s eventual warmth feel earned rather than inevitable. Few films would dare put graveyard zombies, existential crises, and a cast sing-along of “Silent Night” on the same reel. This experience was a blessing, not a humbug. Equal parts graveyard shiver, gallows smirk, and Dickensian tearjerker, Ebenezer reminds us that Charles Dickens always intended A Christmas Carol to be a ghost story—even if this version makes you laugh in the dark before it makes you reach for a tissue.
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