Directed by Ti West (X, Pearl, MaXXXine) and distributed by Paramount Pictures, Ebenezer (2026) is a gothic Christmas fantasy that reimagines Charles Dickens’ beloved literary classic, A Christmas Carol. Starring Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean) as the infamous Ebenezer Scrooge, this interpretation takes a familiar festive story and gives it a considerably darker, more horror-driven makeover.
While its Christmas setting and recognisable characters might suggest a traditional holiday adventure, West clearly has some rather different ideas about how frightening a Christmas ghost story can be.
A Familiar Christmas Story with a Darker Twist
Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Victorian England, the story follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy businessman whose greed and miserable outlook have left him increasingly isolated from the people around him.
However, when a series of supernatural visitors arrive on Christmas Eve, Scrooge is forced to revisit the defining moments of his life, confront the consequences of his actions and witness the rather grim possibilities awaiting him if he continues down the same path.
Old-School Filmmaking and Standout Performances
One of the first things that stood out to me was the film’s wonderfully old-school presentation. The noticeable film grain, crossfades and chapter title cards give Ebenezer the appearance of an old Christmas classic. There’s a nostalgic quality to the filmmaking that I really appreciated, helping establish an almost timeless atmosphere that feels perfectly suited to Dickens’ nearly 200-year-old original story.
Johnny Depp is an absolute delight as Scrooge, delivering a wonderfully eccentric and occasionally campy performance. It’s great to see him back in such a transformative role, and he brings plenty of personality to a character we’ve seen portrayed countless times before.
Rupert Grint (Harry Potter) is another pleasant surprise as Bob Cratchit, providing a genuinely wholesome presence that offers some welcome warmth against the film’s otherwise gloomy atmosphere.
Ti West Brings Genuine Horror to Christmas
What surprised me most, however, was just how far Ti West leans into the horror elements.
Given the marketing, I was expecting something closer to Beetlejuice (1988) or Disney’s Haunted Mansion (2003), with spooky characters, quirky humour and a relatively family-friendly approach to the supernatural.
Instead, Ebenezer often feels like a straight-up horror movie. West makes excellent use of lighting, unsettling audio cues and some impressive special effects to create sequences that are surprisingly frightening. It’s a much darker interpretation than I anticipated.
The production design is arguably the film’s greatest achievement. The recreation of late-19th-century England is absolutely spectacular, with the sets, costumes and combination of practical and special effects creating an incredibly convincing period setting.
It’s some of the best craftsmanship I’ve seen in a production of this kind.
An Uneven Balance of Horror and Humour
Unfortunately, the film isn’t quite as consistent when it comes to its tone.
Depp’s occasionally over-the-top performance can feel at odds with the genuinely unsettling horror sequences, creating an uneven experience that never quite settles on what it wants to be.
It’s a shame, particularly given how much care has clearly gone into the film’s visual presentation and atmosphere.
Ebenezer (2026) Review – Final Verdict
Ultimately, Ebenezer is an interesting and visually impressive reimagining of a familiar Christmas story.
Johnny Depp is thoroughly entertaining, the production design is exceptional and Ti West brings some genuinely effective horror to the festive season. However, its occasionally conflicting tones prevent everything from coming together as successfully as it could have.
It’s certainly not the light-hearted Christmas adventure that audiences may be expecting, but there’s enough here to appreciate, particularly for fans of darker holiday stories.
Score: 6/10
