Set in the late 18th century, the film follows Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp), a New York City police officer sent to the small village of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of mysterious murders. The victims were found decapitated, and local legend points to the infamous Headless Horseman, a vengeful spirit haunting the town.

Ichabod, a skeptic of the supernatural, soon finds himself entangled in a web of dark secrets and plots. As he digs deeper into the mystery, he uncovers a plot linking the murders to a hidden and sinister plot involving influential families in the town. His investigation becomes complicated by his feelings growing for Katrina Van Tassel (Christina Ricci), the daughter of one of the town’s prominent figures.