Tim Burton, of All People, Doesn’t Like Sharp Things

Tim Burton’s latest film, Sweeney Todd, revolves around the sanguinary antics of a vengeful barber (Johnny Depp). In many ways the new movie recalls a much earlier Burton-Depp collaboration with prominent blades, Edward Scissorhands, and when we saw the notoriously wild-maned director at last night’s premiere, we wondered whether the key to his oeuvre wasn’t a fear of haircuts.

Had he ever had a traumatizing barbershop experience? “Of course!� he told us. So many, in fact, that he couldn’t pick out just one. “I just don’t like strange people touching me. You know, like, with a sharp instrument.� Really? Tim Burton is phobic about sharp things? We guess that’s what gave him such a healthy respect for the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. —Ben Kawaller