Woodyanders Review of Vincent

Vincent (1982)

A wonderfully heartfelt homage to horror legend Vincent Price

[9/10 · 18 April 2010]

This early six minute short from Tim Burton shows substantial signs of his significant creative genius and startling individuality. Young boy Vincent Malloy aspires to be just like his idol Vincent Price. This annoys his disapproving mother to no end. From the funky old school style stop-motion animation to the familiar Burton themes of loneliness, obsession, and nonconformity to several wickedly amusing witty touches (a grave Malloy digs up turns out to be his mom's flowerbed and Malloy imagines dipping his pesky aunt in a vat of hot molten wax!) to Victor Abdalov's sharp black and white cinematography to the inspired references to Edgar Allan Poe (natch) to Ken Hilton's perfectly spooky hum'n'shiver score to the marvelously robust and mellifluous narration by Price himself, this sweetly macabre and affectionate delight is a complete pleasure to watch from start to finish. Essential viewing for Tim Burton fans and Vincent Price buffs alike.