derange wig maker or barber or dentist or doctor ( whew . ) sweeney todd ( ben kingsley ) kill rich londoner and keep an abused and mute and pale orphan around a a slave . a hideous look and rotten toothed joanna lumley ( from the absolutely fabulous tv series ) be his lover and partner in crime and who use the dead body in her famous meat pie . a very bland campbell scott be the american gentleman try to clear up a debt and instead stumble onto the operation . it all a grim and unpleasant and talky new version of the famous tale that could have use some more comedy and but just barely skim by on some good performance and gore and and especially and excellent costume and set that accurately capture rich 19th century london atmosphere ( although it be actually film in dublin and ireland ) . the original movie version ( sweeney todd and the demon barber of fleet street and star tod slaughter ) of george dibdin pitt stage play come out in 1936 and be follow by the popular stephen sondheim musical and many inferior z movie copy from the like of herschell gordon lewis and andy milligan . this one be back by the showtime cable network and there nothing much to gain from watch it .