Tim Burton directs this comedy adaptation of the cult gothic-horror TV series (which ran from 1966-1971). Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Michelle Pfeiffer and Chloë Moretz.
In the 16th Century, the English-born Barnabas Collins (Depp) is living a wealthy and powerful life as an American playboy in the town of Collinsport, Maine. But after breaking the heart of a secretive witch, Barnabas is turned into a vampire and buried alive for 200 years. Upon his release in the year 1972, he finds his once-thriving establishment to be in tatters, with his descendants equally as broken.
This will mark the eighth pairing of Burton and Depp, the seventh pairing of Burton and Bonham Carter (Burton's wife), and the fourth pairing of Depp and Bonham Carter in a Burton film.
Whilst not quite the triumph we might have been hoping for, this lushly produced gothic comedy is director Tim Burton’s best film since 2003’s Big Fish.
Depp, who was so annoying in Alice and Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Burton’s worst films if you take Planet of the Apes out of the picture) is no less affected in his performance here, but for some reason it just works.
I recoiled when I saw the scene of him trying to find the little people in the television, in the trailer, but it’s his character’s lack of familiarity with the modern era (well, 1972) that provides most of the film’s best jokes. The hippy scene alone is worth the price of admission.
Re-teaming with his old collaborator, production designer Rick Heinrichs, proves to be a great move for Burton and the look of the film evokes the best parts of Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands and Mars Attacks!
Helena Bonham Carter has the coolest look, but Michelle Pfeiffer and Chloë Grace Moretz have more to do, and they’re both excellent. Eva Green stomps around with too much lipstick on, but seems to be having a lot of fun as the baddie, while former Neighbours star Bella Heathcote steps up in a major way to play the love interest. Her enormous eyes bode well for her future career.
The plot feels a tad directionless, but the baroque proceedings always held my interest throughout. I like that Burton is looking to his past for inspiration here, but he has a way to go to reclaim his status as mainstream Hollywood’s boldest visual filmmaker.
By Dominic Corry, Flicks.co.nz
This is one good movie. It is a love story like no other and it just works.The artistry of Tim Burton the film maker really shows through.A very slick production! It is also an example of flawless acting by Jonny Depp. The whole story is very believable and holds the viewer for the entire film.The sets,the makeup,the humour all add to the experience. It could be a little quirky for some but does make for an enjoyable two hours at the movies.
There were no surprises when Tim Burton announced that his next film would be one based on the cult hit 70's TV show "Dark Shadows", nor were there any when Johnny Depp was announced to star. In fact, it may have shown that the current audience may be suffering from some form of Burton/Depp fatigue. Which is unfortunate, because from their long career together, Burton and Depp have stumbled upon a fantastic homage to a show many won't remember nor know of. "Dark Shadows" tells the tale of Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), a man born into earned wealth during the 1700's and who lives in the town of Collinswood, a town that carries his family name. He falls in love with Josette Du Pres, earning the scorn of the witch Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) who turns him into a vampire and seals him away for 200 years. When he awakes, it is the 70's and he finds his cousin Elizabeth (Michelle Pfeiffer) and her family, brother Roger (Jonny Lee Miller) and his son David (Gulliver McGrath), her daughter Carolyn (Chloe Moretz), the family psychiatrist Dr Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), house servants Willie Loomis (Jackie Earl Haley) and Mrs Johnson (Ray Shirley) and governess, Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcote) in a state unfitting of the Collins name. Barnabas takes it upon himself to return the family to its former glory. The film carries all the trademarks of a Burton film. Beautiful, surreal worlds brimming with darkness and intimate, whacky characters so fitting of all his previous work. The story is well crafted, especially considering how fantastical it is, and the cast under Burton's guide delivers strongly. As previously said, the drawback for this film could be that of the Burton/Depp fatigue. And if that's the only thing that stops you from seeing it, then you are missing out on a treat.
Dark Shadows Predicably its a Tim Burton and Johnny Depp mash up, much like 'Edward Scisorhands' and a kin to 'Interview with a Vampire'. It is, of course a wonderfully delightful piece of film making, however if you didnt enjoy 'Corpes Bride' then it may not be your cup of tea. Basically, thats it, tho I did like the reasoning for Depp to want to sleep in a coffin. With make-up and some reminders of 'Death Becomes Her' I enjoyed it, however would not watch it twice. Genre : horror, comedy, fantasy, vampire, 2/5 : get work on a good film but seemd overly produced for satire more than humour
Okay, so clearly the team that is Tim Burton and Johnny Depp (and Helena Bonham Carter!) is epic for a reason - and this film definitely shows flashes of this developed genius! Dark Shadows is a quirky mix of comedy and gothic, often within the very same scene - the hippie campfire springs to mind - and somehow, it just works. No one does quirky better than Johnny Depp, after all. And to be honest, the whole film really was carried by his performance. Of course I also enjoyed Helena Bonham Carter's role, but she didn't have all that much screen time. The other characters were mildly interesting, and had their moments, but weren't completely spectacular either. Eva Green was the least impressive for me, which is probably because I expected her to be something more exciting, as the main 'villain'. But despite this, there's just a certain... charm to this film! One aspect which particularly captured my attention was the use of music throughout the film - I couldn't help but notice it because sometimes, the choice of music was so unusual but so *perfect* at the same time that it just stood out. Hence the quirky, and the wonderfully weird. Makes for a good evening spent :)
This film was pure entertainment from the get go. Interesting characters, art and cinematography.
Any proper adaptation of Dark Shadows, even one that acknowledges and celebrates its camp silliness as much as Burton's does, has to immerse itself in soap opera, too, and it's here that the director's lack of conviction becomes apparent.
There’s nothing particularly infuriating about the film, because fury would require passion. Dark Shadows wants to be frightful, but it’s just frightfully dull.
A step up from Alice In Wonderland and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, but not tip-top Tim.
Dark Shadows sinks its teeth half-way into its potentially meaty material but hesitates to go all the way.
Dark Shadows sinks its teeth half-way into its potentially meaty material but hesitates to go all the way.
