Release Date: October 2, 2012
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 113 minutes

Director Tim Burton brings the cult classic series “Dark Shadows” to the big screen in a film featuring an all-star cast, led by Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham Carter.

In the year 1750, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from England to start a new life in America, where they build a fishing empire in the coastal Maine town that comes to carry their name: Collinsport. Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy…until he makes the grave mistake of falling in love with a beauty named Josette DuPres (Bella Heathcote) and breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death—turning him into a vampire, and then burying him…alive.

Nearly two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972, a stranger in an even stranger time. Returning to Collinwood Manor, he finds that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin, and the dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each harboring their own dark secrets.

Family matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer) is the one person Barnabas entrusts with the truth of his identity. But his rather odd and anachronistic behavior immediately raises the suspicions of the live-in psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), who has no idea what kind of problems she’s really digging up.

As Barnabas sets out to restore his family name to its former glory, one thing stands in his way: Collinsport’s leading denizen, who goes by the name Angie…and who bears a striking resemblance to a very old acquaintance of Barnabas Collins.

Also residing in Collinwood Manor are Elizabeth’s ne’er-do-well brother, Roger Collins, (Jonny Lee Miller); her rebellious teenage daughter Carolyn Stoddard (Chloë Grace Moretz); and Roger’s precocious 10-year-old son, David Collins (Gully McGrath). The longsuffering caretaker of Collinwood is Willie Loomis (Jackie Earle Haley), and new to the Collins’ employ is David’s nanny, Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcote), who is, mysteriously, the mirror image of Barnabas’ one true love, Josette.

Having never seen the soap opera from which this film is based, Dark Shadows introduced me to a world that was created almost fifty years ago… and if I were around then, I’m positive I would have enjoyed the TV series. That said, it’s hard to know what is a straight parody and what borderlines satire because the film provides the laughs and head scratching moments all the way through. It’s the kind of dark comedy that I haven’t seen in awhile and was more than happy to see on my screen again. It’s the kind of film that you either love, hate, or just plain confused by (Cabin in the Woods anyone?).

Now even though I enjoyed parts of the film, I was at times confused about where the film was going. The introduction was completely rushed, setting up the plot and all. The plot was too simple, the entire film not taking itself too seriously. In the moments the film attempts to be dramatic and earn the “horror” title in the “comedy horror” genre, it just seems odd, not at all balanced and natural in its transitions. And as much of a comedy punch as Dark Shadows provided, it just wasn’t enough to keep me engaged for the almost two hours it takes to watch the entire film. It’s campy and when it’s not, it is all wrong. I have a feeling the TV series is way better. Would I recommend Dark Shadows? No. I wouldn’t. But would I say don’t watch it if there’s absolutely nothing else to watch? On days like this, with time to lose, go ahead! The cast is great and works very well with what they had to work with so if nothing else, check it out for the cast and get a few good laughs.

Bonus Features:

Focus Points include:
BECOMING BARNABAS (5 minutes) – This featurette is a character analysis of Barnabas by Johnny Depp. This featurette in particular was exciting to watch because I am always amazed at the lengths Depp goes to get into character in any film so this film was no different. Aside from the look of Barnabas, including the smallest of details, there wasn’t a whole lot to get out of this featurette though so that was slightly disappointing. But it is worth the watch!

WELCOME TO COLLINSPORT! (5 minutes) – One of my favorite aspects about this film was the world created. I was enthralled with the visuals of the sets and locations used to bring this world to life. I fell in love with the look of this world and was thrilled to be able to see what it took to bring it all together in this featurette. As Tim Burton states in the featurette, Collinsport is a character. So true. Every detail was so important and Burton is not one to overlook the details which is one of the reasons why we love him so much.

THE COLLINSES: EVERY FAMILY HAS ITS DEMONS (7 minutes) – This featurette is here to help viewers become familiar with the cast members behind the quirky characters. It’s the time when Tim Burton talks about casting these actors and the actors talk about the joys of working with each other. All of this viewers have probably heard a million different ways during the promotion for this film’s theater release, so this is a skip.

RELIVING A DECADE (4 minutes) – In this featurette, the cast and crew talk about working on a period piece unlike any other since the 70s was for the most part, their childhood. From the home decor and fashion to the music, re-living the 70s was exciting for all. Again though, if you followed the cast promoting the film, you’ve heard this all before so you’re not missing anything here.

ANGELIQUE: A WITCH SCORNED (4 minutes) – Johnny Depp and Eva Green tell us why Angelique is not completely mad. For a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously, one thing that I did notice was how human Angelique is. She was hurt and her pain dictated the rest of her life. No matter how supernatural a person gets, pain changes everything. This was a very short character analysis but I think that if you didn’t get it before, you will here.

ALICE COOPER ROCKS COLLINSPORT! (2 minutes) – When you think about it, it makes complete sense that Tim Burton approached Alice Cooper to appear in this film but not until I watched this featurette did I truly realize and understand just how perfect of a fit this is.

DARK SHADOWY SECRETS (5 minutes) – This featurette is dedicated to the props and special effects that played a great part in really bringing this world together and to life. No matter the budget for this film, the crew did a fabulous job with the visual effects and such so this featurette is very well deserved.

VAMPIRES, WITCHES AND WEREWOLVES, OH MY! (2 minutes) – This featurette is literally two minutes long, therefore it serves no purpose. What was said here could have been added onto the Angelique featurette.

A MELEE OF MONSTROUS PROPORTIONS (3 minutes) – While watching the film for the first time, it was clear that the actors put a lot of time into the final battle sequence, so it was a pleasant surprise to see a feature dedicated to all of that hard for that the cast and crew, including the stunt coordinator put into it. There is an awful lot of action in the film so it would be an injustice not to have a featurette showcasing such. Of all of the featurettes, this is easily a favorite. Who doesn’t enjoy seeing what it takes to get action scenes right?

DELETED SCENES (6 minutes) – There are five deleted scenes, none of which are worth your time watching. Skip it!

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