Rarely has the ratio of quality talent to dismal returns been as high as in "Burke & Hare,'' a macabre British period piece that's nowhere near as funny as it thinks.

"Burke and Hare" is a waste of a good cast and a better story, as well as a hollow reminder of how John Landis seemingly has lost his touch.

A droll take on one of the most notorious mass-murder cases of the 19th century.

There’s probably enough material in the movie for a deliciously macabre short. Unfortunately, the padding dilutes the aspects that work without adding anything worthwhile.