Dark Shadows Movie Blurb by Shale May 11, 2012 The opening credits mentioned that this movie was based on the daytime TV Goth soap opera of the same name. I have nothing to compare here because from 1966 to 1971 I was a young man who had more fun things going on in my life than TV. But, I did run into a guy named Scott whom I often see at these Friday matinees and he is of that generation who were teenagers running home to watch this show and he said it did keep true to some of the characters. (I also read an online review by a guy who was immersed in Dark Shadows on TV and he agreed it was, with some faults, an OK movie) So, here we have another Johnny Depp/Tim Burton weird-tale collaboration that I thot worked very well. It opens in the late 18th Century with the Collins family establishing themselves as a wealthy and prominent family in Collinsport a fishing town in Maine. Barnabas Collins (Depp) is lusted after by Angelique (Eva Green) a lowly servant who is rebuffed by him in his desire to wed Josette (Bella Heathcote). Trouble is, Angelique is a witch who offs Barnabas' family and his fiancé then turns him into a vampire, eventually getting the angry townsfolk to chain him in a coffin where he spends the next couple hundred years until his coffin is accidentally unearthed in 1972. Barnabas Returns He returns to Collinwood Manor the family mansion and starts working with the current family matriarch Elizabeth (Michelle Pfeiffer) to revive the Collins estate. Elizabeth Collins The family is barely hanging on and consists of Elizabeth, her lout of a son Roger (Johnny Lee), her rebellious teen daughter Carolyn (Choloe Moretz) and her troubled grandson David (Gulliver McGrath) who is under the care of live-in psychiatrist, Dr. Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter). The estate is in ruins because of supernatural competition from Angelique the witch who is still around and prospering. She resumes her interest in the arisen Barnabas. Barnabas & Angelique Love/Hate Continues Elizabeth has hired Victoria (Heathcote) a governess to tutor David and it complicates Barnabas' life because she looks exactly like his former love Josette. Victoria There is turmoil as the newly arisen vampire needs to feed as vampires do and as all members of the Collins family adjust to this distant strange relative and as he and Angelique continue a centuries old battle. It was a fun romp (literally, as the witch and vampire make love - destroying a room in the process). Even a slightly risqué scene as Angelique chains Barnabas inside a coffin the second time. I enjoyed the long scene opening in 1972 - with the Moody Blues Knights in White Satin playing. I was around then and while not watching much TV, I was listening to the music and maybe watched a couple of lava lamps. It was like I had just come out of a coffin into a familiar past.
Cool you gave a review for this one Shale, I've been contemplating checking it out and I was even trying to see reviews for it earlier today but my phone was not working. So your review is the first that I've read and I think I'll probably check out a matinee showing of it.
I loved the 90s reboot series. Dark Shadows has never been funny, but always enganging... I'm worried that adding comedy to it will make it corny... Wanting to go see it soon anyway!
I ended up seeing this and enjoyed it. I never saw the original series to draw comparisons to but it was a campy and entertaining movie.
i want to see this.but untell i can i watch the series on hulu.i watched it back in the day and it kept me creeping qround the halls of the old places we(brthers and sisters)would go to visit just looking to find barnabus.hehehehehe
