Dark Shadows Review

Rated PG-13 (Comic Horror Violence, Sexual Content, Some Drug Use, Language and Smoking)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 53 Minutes

Cast-

Johnny Depp-Barnabas Collins

Eva Green-Angelique Bouchard

Michelle Pfeiffer-Elizabeth Collins Stoddard

Helena Bonham Carter-Dr. Julia Hoffman

Chloë Grace Moretz-Carolyn Stoddard

Jonny Lee Miller-Roger Collins

Gulliver McGrath-David Collins

Bella Heathcote-Victoria Winters/Josette du Pres

Jackie Earle Haley-Willie Loomis

Christopher Lee-Clarney

Ray Shirley-Mrs. Johnson

Ivan Kaye-Joshua Collins

Susanna Cappellaro-Naomi Collins

Alice Cooper-As Himself

Directed by Tim Burton

Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) awakens after a two-century slumber to find himself in a strange new world in Tim Burton's "Dark Shadows."

Back in 1990, 20th Century Fox released Tim Burton’s “Edward Scissorhands,” a romance/fantasy film about an artificial man with large scissors instead of hands who is taken in by a kind suburban family and subsequently falls in love with their teenage daughter. Playing the titular character was Johnny Depp, who at the time was attempting to distance himself from his teen idol status due to his role as undercover police officer Tom Hanson on the television series “21 Jump Street,” which was recently adapted into an action comedy film starring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill, with Depp even making a surprise cameo. The actor reportedly ‘wept like a baby’ when he finished reading the script for “Edward Scissorhands” and thus began the first of many collaborations between Depp and director Tim Burton. From 1999’s “Sleepy Hollow” to 2010’s “Alice in Wonderland,” Depp and Burton have worked together in seven films in the past twenty-two years. This summer saw the release of “Dark Shadows,” their eighth feature based upon the gothic soap opera of the same name that aired from 1966 to 1971 on ABC, with an amazing grand total of 1225 episodes. Created by Dan Curtis, the show became wildly popular when Jonathan Frid’s vampire Barnabas Collins was introduced a year into its run and was lauded for its dramatic story-telling, melodramatic performances, and atmospheric interiors. Featuring supernatural and science fiction elements such as werewolves, parallel universes, and time travel, the show was noted for its quirks resulting from filming in a live-to-tape format, meaning scenes were shot in one take. The cast would often struggle with their lines and unintentionally bump into objects on the set while a stagehand can be seen working in the background. Obsessed with the show as a child, Depp called it his ‘childhood dream’ to portray Barnabas Collins and managed to persuade Burton to direct, who happened to be a fan of the show as well.  Depp and Burton’s love for the show is clearly evident in every scene but while “Dark Shadows” excels with its macabre visuals and gorgeous production/costume design, the film suffers from an inconsistent tone, a meandering story, and underdeveloped characters. 

Wishing to expand their fishing business, the wealthy Joshua Collins (Ivan Kaye) sets sail from Liverpool, England toward North America in 1760 with his wife Naomi (Susanna Cappellaro) and young son Barnabas. They settle in what is now Maine and form a small fishing town called Collinsport, which quickly prospers under the guiding hand of the Collins family. An elaborate mansion dubbed Collinwood Manor is soon built to establish permanent roots in their new home. Barnabas (Johnny Depp) grows up to be a playboy in the town and enjoys a dalliance with a servant girl named Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) but ends up rejecting her in favor of Josette du Pres (Bella Heathcote). Revealing herself to be a witch, Angelique kills Barnabas’ parents by crushing them with a statue that plummets from the roof and forces Josette to jump off a cliff called Widow’s Peak using a powerful spell. Barnabas fails to save her in time and is cursed to be a vampire by Angelique, who riles up the townspeople and buries him alive in a chained coffin in the woods. Fast forward 212 years later in 1972, a young woman named Victoria Winters (also Bella Heathcote) arrives at Collinwood Manor to accept the position of governess to a young boy, David Collins (Gulliver McGrath). The current matriarch of the Collins family is Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer), who has a sullen fifteen-year-old daughter named Carolyn (Chloë Grace Moretz). Her brother Roger (Jonny Lee Miller) is also the indifferent father to David. Living with them is Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), the family psychiatrist hired to help David move on from his mother’s death. Meanwhile, a group of construction workers discover Barnabas’ coffin and accidentally free him. After quenching his thirst for blood by feeding on the workers, Barnabas makes his way toward Collinwood Manor. He is disappointed to see his former home in ruins and introduces himself to Elizabeth, convincing her that he really is who he says he is. Learning that the family has fallen on hard times, Barnabas takes it upon himself to restore their business and good name but must contend with Angelique, who has now become a prominent citizen of Collinsport thanks to her rival fishing business, Angel Bay Fishery. 

Before I begin, let me just say that I have not seen the original “Dark Shadows” television series since it was before my time so I cannot comment how faithful Tim Burton’s film adaptation is compared to the show. For those who are interested in the series, it is available for streaming on Netflix and will be released in a deluxe edition DVD box set (shaped like a coffin) on July 10, although it will cost a pretty penny even at the discounted $431.99 price on Amazon. Many of Tim Burton’s films are driven by macabre visuals and “Dark Shadows” is no different, featuring a dreary atmosphere courtesy of cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel. The production design from Rick Heinrichs is impeccable, especially Collinwood Manor with its low-lit rooms and ornate architecture. Finally, Colleen Atwood’s (who also worked on “Snow White and the Huntsman”) costumes capture the ridiculous fashions of the 1970’s while also maintaining an oddball quality to them. Of course, audiences have come to expect interesting and kooky visuals from Tim Burton and “Dark Shadows” excels at this but when it comes to the story, it’s something of a mess. Written by John August and Seth Grahame-Smith, the film never finds a consistent tone and often flip-flops from gloomy melodrama to horror comedy. The premise of a normal family’s lives being turned upside down when they let a stranger live with them is a rehash of previous Burton films, including the aforementioned “Edward Scissorhands” and 1988’s “Beetlejuice,” making this one a largely derivative affair. 

Once Barnabas Collins shows up, Burton plays up his ‘fish-out-of-water’ experience for laughs while the film spins its wheels until the final twenty minutes when it suddenly remembers that it has a story to tell. Granted, some of the scenes are funny such as Barnabas leering at a lava lamp mistaking it for blood or yelling ‘What sorcery is this? Reveal yourself, tiny songstress!’ when he first encounters a television. Upon waking from his two-century slumber, he mistakes a giant ‘M’ for the symbol of Mephistopheles and demands the devil to show himself (‘Mock me not with your strange luminance!’) when he encounters a car’s headlights in the distance. Later, he has this ridiculous sex scene with Eva Green’s Angelique where the two tumble around the room and break all the furniture while Barry White’s You're the First, the Last, My Everything plays in the background. Quite a lot of music from the 1970’s is used which adds to the eccentric tone of the film. The comedy won’t leave you rolling on the floor laughing but it makes the film’s middle section more bearable as nothing really happens. With the exception of Barnabas and Angelique, the supporting characters are never developed beyond their basic roles and some of the revelations about the Collins family feel unearned at the end. Tim Burton is a talented director but “Dark Shadows” is one of his weaker films and proves that excellent visuals cannot make up for the lack of a compelling story. 

Like the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, Johnny Depp’s presence help elevate “Dark Shadows,” who throws himself into the role of Barnabas Collins and delivers a fun, earnest performance while wearing eighteen century clothes and chalk-white makeup. His dialogue delivery is intentionally stiff to reflect the old-fashioned quality of the character. In fact, the entire film hinges on Depp as everyone’s actions are usually a reaction to Barnabas’. Similarly, Eva Green is excellent as Angelique Bouchard with her controlling yet seductive demeanor. Like Depp, she is clearly having fun with the role and successfully juggles (no pun intended!) the comedy/horror aspect that Burton desperately strives for. The rest of the cast is largely wasted but Michelle Pfeiffer, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Helena Bonham Carter do their best with what they’re given. Four of the cast members from the original television series: Jonathan Frid, Lara Parker, David Selby and Kathryn Leigh Scott also make cameo appearances during a ball held in the Collinwood Manor. 

Released on May 11, 2012, “Dark Shadows” received mixed reviews from critics with 40% on Rotten Tomatoes. They agreed that ‘the visuals are top notch but Tim Burton never finds a consistent rhythm, mixing campy jokes and gothic spookiness with less success than other Johnny Depp collaborations.’ Due to the massive shadow cast by “The Avengers,” the film never really stood a chance, opening with $29.7 million but it won’t be a total loss for Warner Brothers as it has currently grossed $191 million worldwide. Part of the problem can be attributed to the obscurity of the television series and the fact the Barnabas Collins does not sparkle like million dollar diamonds. I saw the film three weeks after release and it was rather sad to see such a pitiful audience. “Dark Shadows” was clearly made with affection by Tim Burton and Johnny Depp but the film’s focus on the visuals and atmosphere led to the story becoming little more than an afterthought. Although Burton fans will be more forgiving, even they will come away disappointed and wonder if the director is losing his touch.

Final Rating: 3 out of 5

“I have already prepared my counter-proposal. It reads thusly: You may strategically place your wonderful lips upon my posterior and kiss it repeatedly!”