In the movie “Dark Shadows,” directed by Tim Burton, which airs every month on SYFY, you’ll find elements that flirt with adult themes at times, yet maintain a more innocent, family-friendly vibe in other moments. This film offers something for almost everyone, but it particularly resonates with the playful, mischievous spirit that resides within many adults who are young at heart.
In Tim Burton’s extensive collection of films, it seems logical. Released in May of 2012, the movie “Dark Shadows” found itself neatly sandwiched between 2011’s “Alice in Wonderland” and late 2012’s “Frankenweenie”. Although its narrative revolves around a gloomy, decaying vampire, there’s an air of cheerfulness and youthful energy that permeates the movie, as well as its lively and unconventional adaptation of the original horror comedy TV series from the 1970s.
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Dark Shadows: Tim Burton and Johnny Depp’s horror comedy time warp
In the movie “Dark Shadows,” Johnny Depp portrays Barnabas Collins, a rigid and somber character from the 18th century who hails from Europe’s old world. Transplanted to America, his life takes an unexpectedly dark supernatural twist due to the vengeance of his jilted lover, Angelique (Eva Green), when she uses her witchcraft to transform him into a vampire upon learning that Barnabas has fallen for Josette (Bella Heathcote) – a kinder, sweeter soul mate from the same era.
200 years later, Barnabas awakens from his time-bound coffin to discover the once grand Collins estate in disarray, with a 1970s ambiance. The remaining family members struggle to maintain their legacy; among them are Elizabeth (Michelle Pfeiffer), her unproductive brother (Jonny Lee Miller), rebellious daughter Carolyn (Chloë Grace Moretz), young David (Gully McGrath), an odd groundskeeper Willie (Jackie Earle Haley), and they all reside in the decaying Collinwood Mansion.
Upon Barnabas’ return to the dilapidated mansion of the 1970s, Elizabeth and the family express minor doubts, swiftly overcome when Barnabas begins revealing arcane Collins family secrets that no one else could possibly know, thanks to Johnny Depp’s character as the porcelain-skinned vampire. More troubling for Barnabas is the seemingly coincidental appearance of a governess named Victoria (portrayed by Heathcote), who bears an uncanny resemblance to Josette, the love taken from him centuries ago by Angelique.
The setup for Dark Shadows introduces the strange characteristics of its characters, such as rebellious Carolyn’s love for 70s rock and Angelique’s continued manipulation of the Collins estate after 200 years, using witchcraft. When Barnabas and a woman resembling Josette return, Angelique seizes the opportunity to regain control over them, which triggers her evil powers. In reaction, Angelique concocts a plan to either win Barnabas’ heart for good or destroy his life again.
One enjoyable aspect of the show Dark Shadows is witnessing Angelique subject the expanded Collins family to a series of preposterously comedic horror trials. A notable scene features an exceptionally acrobatic display of affection between Angelique and Barnabas, which seems more akin to a mystical athletic competition than a conventional romantic encounter. Moreover, there’s a riotous scene where Barnabas, in a humorous twist, takes Julia (Helena Bonham Carter), the Collins’ worn-out resident psychiatrist, as his victim during a feeding – even virtuous vampires need sustenance!
What stands out most in this movie are the brief yet impactful cameos by famous actors, demonstrating that Tim Burton has a knack for gathering top-tier celebrity talent for even the quirkiest film concepts. For instance, Alice Cooper’s full-scale concert scene (which left Barnabas rather bewildered due to time travel) and Christopher Lee’s subtle yet humorous portrayal of an old fisherman add a lot of fun to the movie. Furthermore, the film is richly adorned with Burton’s signature creative set design and costuming, a result of his collaboration with production genius Rick Heinrichs and costume designer Colleen Atwood.
In his unique acting talent, Johnny Depp seamlessly immerses himself into eccentric characters, such as Jack Sparrow and Edward Scissorhands. As Barnabas Collins, the refined yet comically out-of-place vampire, he found ample material to work with. It’s said that Depp was a fan of the Dark Shadows TV series as a child, and later championed the film adaptation, which ultimately came to fruition. His enthusiasm for the project reportedly convinced Tim Burton to collaborate on their eighth (and most recent) joint production, with Depp in the starring role and Burton directing.
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2025-03-27 21:32