Summer Cinema Review: Dark Shadows

By Justine Figueroa on June 10, 2012

Dark Shadows is the story of Barnabas Collins (portrayed by Johnny Depp), an imprisoned vampire who returns to his home in Collingsport, Maine in the 1970s to find his descendants in need of protection from the witch who confined and turned him 200 years ago.

The dark comedy/ fantasy film was directed by Tim Burton, the master of all things cryptic and mystical. It is based on the gothic soap opera created by Dan Curtis which originally aired from 1966-1971.

The story follows Barnabas as he tries to adjust to life during that decade as well as fend off the advances and threats made by the witch whose affections he did not return, Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green).

His once-illustrious estate has fallen to pieces at the hands of his family members whom include Elizabeth, the matriarch of the family, (Michelle Pfieffer), the sensual and sassy daughter, Carolyn (Chloe Grace Moretz), the haunted young boy, David (Gulliver McGrath), David’s live-in psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), and his father, Roger, who is harboring secrets of his own (Johnny Lee Miller). They all work together to put Collinwood Manor back on it’s feet and restore the family business, only to have their efforts thwarted by the vengeful, Angelique.

Eva Green as Angelique Bouchard.

As the film continues, the family secrets are revealed and the duplicitous are exposed. In the end, it’s a film filled with lost love, unrequited love and the love of a family, with some more sinister, whimsical elements and humor thrown in for good measure.

I think it goes without saying that Johnny Depp is easily one of  the most versatile actors of our time. He does not disappoint in this film. He manages to be both comedic and creepy in a way that is synonymous with most Tim Burton films. The rest of the cast each have their shining moments throughout the film, but the person who shocked and impressed me the most was Chloe Grace Moretz. With this role, she has proven that she is well suited to play parts greatly surpassing her 15 years. I think that she has the potential to be extremely successful in entertainment and can’t wait to see more from her as she matures.

Chloe Grace Moretz as Carolyn Stoddard.

Aesthetically, I loved the contrasting colors in the film. At the beginning, when the movie is taking place during the 1700s, before Barnabas was turned into a vampire, the characters and background are both bright and beautiful. Afterwards, the background is dark and gloomy, but  each character remained bright and cartoon-like against it. The contrast was intriguing and fun to watch.

The comedic timing and writing were both spot on. The humor in the movie was well-rounded and would suit most people’s taste.

The special effects were very impressive. That has, mostly, to do with makeup. Depp’s transformation into Barnabas was nothing short of extraordinary. It is easy to see the extent of the work that was done on his character alone. It is literally down to the fingernail, which was very impressive. I also found Helena Bonham Carter’s character to be exceptionally visually interesting. She was bright and amusing.

Helena Bonham Carter as Dr. Julia Hoffman & Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins.

If I had to rate this move, I’d give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. It was very funny and had enough Tim Burton-esque whimsy to keep my attention. The characters were all unique, interesting and entertaining. I would say that it was probably most easily comparable to Burton, Depp, and Carter’s earlier work, Sweeney Todd, just without the musical elements. It’s not a film that has to be seen in the theater in order to appreciate, however, I would definitely recommend watching it.

Have you seen Dark Shadows? What did you think? Are you a fan of the Burton/Depp/Carter trifecta? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

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