Dark Shadows Appreciation Forum

[Mr_Yuck]

Hey folks, I thought I'd start a thread for those who loved Dark Shadows. As you may have read recently, production has begun on a movie directed by Tim Burton starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins. It's slated to be out sometime in 2012.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1077368/

I became familiar with this series in '91 when they had the series revival on NBC. It was one of my favorite shows until it got cancelled.



So any other Dark Shadows fans out there? Anyone excited over the prospect of a new movie?

[TheShadow]

I watched the 90s series as a child and my parents explained that it was actually a remake.

My mom purchased me a VHS collection of the original series and Barnabas from that one scared the bajeezus out of me. I use to think he was sleeping in the cedar chest that was in my closet. I also asked my parents how I could obtain one of those neck braces that you get when you break your neck so he couldn't bite me

It also didn't help that my Aunt was a super-fan and she had a poster of Barnabas in her apartment.

Anyway, I am excited for the new movie. I'll go see it!

[Penny Dreadful]

I'm a long-time Dark Shadows fan. From the moment my uncle showed me grainy VHS tapes of the classic series when I was 11 or 12, I was addicted to the spooky, fever-dream freakiness of the series. I also enjoyed and own the episodes of the 90s remake with Ben Cross. I loved watching the new show in '91 and was so disappointed when it was cancelled. In rewatching it though, I can see they didn't exactly capture the right vibe of the original series. The new show went a bit too Hollywood with it I think, and Ben Cross didn't have the right sense of eccentricity and duplicity about him. The original, for all its low-budget flaws, caught lightning in a bottle with its weird live theatre vibe and had a massive cult appeal to it with Jonathan Frid's creepy, tragic portrayal of the vampire Barnabas Collins. I'm definitely looking forward to the Burton/Depp film, and they had better get it right or they will feel my wrath. Normally, I have very little faith in remakes but Depp and Burton are both huge fans of the classic series so I'm hoping they'll do it right.

Someone made this nifty music video using clips from the "Barnabas kidnaps Maggie Evans" storyline. They added the song "Strawberry Gashes."

[Divia]

I loved the 90s series. I couldn't watch the older one. the costumes were just too 1960s for me and I hate it when clothes are not historically accurate. Its the history nerd in me. Sorry.

I'm unsure about the new movie coming out. I don't like the look


http://live.drjays.com/index.php/201...-dark-shadows/

[slackrguy]

My Mom was big into the original one (*edit 70's??*) and when the 90's one came out she thought it was cool that I watched it. She started to collect the Dark Shadows comics and everything during the 90's revival...come to think of it she was also rekindling her interest in Vampirella around the same time... Mom is cool, what can I say?

I may give the new movie a go, with Burton/Depp involved it may be good. I readily admit that I tend to not trust Hollywood with any kind of endeavor like this though. Hmm, and come to think of it two of Burton's previous rebranding efforts have not 100% won me over (Planet of the Apes and Willy Wonka). Is there a teaser trailer or anything out yet?

[Divia]

No I think only some pics are out but no trailer yet. Kinda makes ya wonder why.

[BlueStreak]

I love the original series. My mom got me hooked on it when it was in re-runs in the 70's.

[FLAduranie]

My Mom was/is a HUGE fan. We watched reruns in the 80's I think. I can't wait to take her to see this film.

[TheShadow]

No I think only some pics are out but no trailer yet. Kinda makes ya wonder why.

Correct, no trailer yet. Definitely seems odd since this is coming out in May. I want a trailer! I am interested to see how Barnabas looks in motion, I do not like how he is shown in those pictures.

I noticed that some of Dark Shadows is now on Netflix so I've been re-watching the original series from the point where Willie lets Barnabas out. I'm up to Barnabas getting a portrait of himself painted and having to leave abruptly since the sun was about to come out. Such a fun show!

[Dave-Man]

I used to watch the '60s version when it was on the SCI FI channel, back when it still was called that and when I still had cable. I liked it quite a lot.
I loved the '90s version - I was just getting into vampires when that came out. I wish they had not canceled it, it was just getting good.

I've seen the Dark Shadows made for TV movies from the late 60s and the one with Barnabas was great, the other... not so much.

Should be interesting to see how the new movie turns out.

[Penny Dreadful]

I've seen the Dark Shadows made for TV movies from the late 60s and the one with Barnabas was great, the other... not so much.

House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows were theatrical releases from MGM. I agree, House of Dark Shadows is quite good and it did very well at the box office. Unfortunately, Night of Dark Shadows suffered because the studio made Dan Curtis chop out over 35 minutes of footage with a deadline of 24 hours in which to do it. Many years later, much of the lost footage was found by Darren Gross who was spearheading restoration efforts for the film. Unfortunately, the audio tracks were missing. They managed to reassemble all surviving actors to re-dub their own voices - over 30 years later! Unfortunately, the restored version of NODS has yet to see release but rumor has it that they will release a two disc set of both films which will include the restored Night of Dark Shadows to coincide with the release Burton film. I hope it's true.

[Dr Kain]

Don't know anything about the previous series, but this movie is Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, and if Danny Elfman is involved, there is no way this movie can suck.

[TheShadow]

I really wish they would put the trailer out already, this thing comes out in May! I rewatched the original series eps they have on Netflix, House of Dark Shadows, and the 90s revival. I have to say, the 90s revival was not as good as I remembered. Plus its pilot episode was just a rip-off of House of Dark Shadows for the most part.

Anywho, they did release a few more promotional pictures for the Burton film. And the screenwriter was just quoted as saying:

The tone of the movie is soap operatic. It’s heightened. Everything is heightened and grand. Johnny is just dug in and big. [Starts hamming it up] ‘Didn’t you see? How… could you? My god, woman!’ There’s an absurdist element to it. It’s very funny. I don’t think people are expecting it to be as funny as it is. It’s PG-13, so there’s not gore, there are no hardcore scares, but there’s some crazy Barnabas vampire **** in this movie that will surprise people in terms of its ferocity.


Barnabas and Angelique


Barnabas and Elizabeth Collins Stoddard


Someone needs some nail clippers

[MldMnrdReporter]

I'm really looking forward to this movie. I used to watch the soap on SyFy in the nineties when it was on. Loved every minute of it.

[TheShadow]

So the trailer is out:



At first I was shocked at the comedic take. I have to wonder, though, if the entire movie will be like this. It seems it will be more "true" to the original during the first part of the film where Barnabas is back in the 1700s, Angelique turns him in to the vampire, and Josette jumps off Widows' Hill. Once he is awakened and talks to Willie in the 70s is when they seem to be playing up the comedy.

After watching the trailer a few times I've really warmed up to it. Maybe it is because the original Barnabas scared me so much as a child I welcome a more jolly take? But, from what the trailer is showing, this certainly isn't a very faithful adaptation to what Dark Shadows was. It will be interesting to see opinions after viewing the actual movie.

[Dave-Man]

Looks like it could be pretty funny, especially if you are a fan of the original. If you're a rabid fan of the original to the extent you don't like people "messing" with it then this could be pretty painful to watch. I am actually quite looking forward to it now.

I just find it incredibly funny to watch the rest of the family totally flabbergasted by Barnabas and his "angsty vampire" routine. It even appears as though they don't care all that much that he is a vampire so much as that he is a pretentious snob.

[TheShadow]

I just find it incredibly funny to watch the rest of the family totally flabbergasted by Barnabas and his "angsty vampire" routine. It even appears as though they don't care all that much that he is a vampire so much as that he is a pretentious snob.

This is one thing I noticed in the trailer as well. I'm not sure if it is just the way it is cut, but it definitely implies that the family almost immediately knows that this is the Barnabas from olden days and that he is a vampire. I liked in the original show more how everyone was a little suspicious of him, since he looked so much like the portrait of the original, and he hid the fact that he was actually a vampire.

[slackrguy]

Ok, well that was a surprise. Plenty of famous faces, I may give it a whirl when it is theaters. I did not find it laugh out loud funny, but mildly amusing and Eva Green looks like she will make an excellent antagonist. In all fairness she usually does

[Lord Anubis]

As a casual fan of the original and a diehard of the 1991 let me be the first to say, id rather have my eyes burned out with acid than sit through this pathetic cash in by Tim Burton.

Sure Dark Shadows is campy, but as a "brooding dark artist" that Tim Burton claims to be, and his "respect for the source material" I dont see any of the above. Its Willy Wonka again with a dark blue filter over it. Now surely people will flock to the theater cause of the names involved, and thats fine, but really? The 1991 show was near flawless in story and tone, this should have been as such. Something to redeem Vampires after Twilight.

Now some of you will hate for this one, but..... Tim Burton needs to stop. Hes more about money than visions now. I expect that of Lucas, but since about..... Ed Wood hes been making non original stinkers. Ok, Sweeney Todd was tolorable, but wasnt anything that stuck out. Dude needs to keep painting and writing and stay away from film. Watching that trailer youd NEVER think this is the guy who did Batman (89) and Edward Scissorhands.

[MldMnrdReporter]

Just watched the trailer and while it looks funny it's not what I thought it'd be at all. Besides the characters it doesn't scream Dark Shadows to me.

[Penny Dreadful]

Imagine if some huge director made a big-budget, high profile He-Man movie, then decided to take the Mo-Larr sketch from Robot Chicken to use as a template for the film. Based on this trailer, that's essentially what Burton has done here. To me, it plays as a huge slap in the face to the legacy of Dan Curtis and I don't get how two guys who claim to be massive fans of the show could do this. DS is gothic horror, gothic romance, and dark fantasy. It's not... this.

As TheShadow said, the trailer starts out promisingly in the 1700s and THAT felt like Dark Shadows, but then it goes straight for the absurdity in the 1970s. I'll wait until the film comes out before I really make a final judgement on it but, based on the trailer, this is more The Brady Bunch Movie meets the Addams Family and NOT Dark Shadows.

I don't think the whole family knows about Depp-Barnabas. When Depp replies to the question "Who the hell is this?" and says "I am a vampire madame" you can see it cuts to a different scene with the fireplace in the background. Then again, he tells Carolyn they tried to stone him once so who knows.

[JonWes]

I was a bit shocked by the trailer, I must admit. I've only seen an episode or two (the original series is in my Netflix queue to catch up on!) but the movie isn't what I was expecting. I do wonder if this is indicative of the film or just the "take" the marketing team is using?

Are you guys at all familiar with Big Finish? They do full audio plays for properties like Doctor Who, but they also do dramatic readings of new Dark Shadows stories. I haven't listened to any of those yet, but their other work is superbly done and very atmospheric. Fans of DS might like those too.

[TheShadow]

http://www.myemoticons.com/emoticons/images/msn/moods/angry_small.gif[/url]

This is a very good point. Johnny Depp was quoted, IIRC, at even saying when he was little he wanted to be Barnabas. I find it odd that people who are such a fan of the original would agree to put this much of a comedic spin on it. Though, it could just be the way they are marketing it and then in turn these moments are few and far between during the actual run of the movie?

I don't think the whole family knows about Depp-Barnabas. When Depp replies to the question "Who the hell is this?" and says "I am a vampire madame" you can see it cuts to a different scene with the fireplace in the background. Then again, he tells Carolyn they tried to stone him once so who knows.

I thought about that too, but then the Carolyn thing and the whole thing about getting the horses and Elizabeth saying they have a Chevy made me think he tells them he is back from the dead. At least in the original Carolyn does find out he is a vampire. Maybe she is the one who figures it out in the movie?

Also, interesting that he is going to save the family business in this. What happened to restoring the Old House? I always liked that aspect, it fed in to Barnabas' ways of olden days.

[markatisu]

As a casual fan of the original and a diehard of the 1991 let me be the first to say, id rather have my eyes burned out with acid than sit through this pathetic cash in by Tim Burton.

Sure Dark Shadows is campy, but as a "brooding dark artist" that Tim Burton claims to be, and his "respect for the source material" I dont see any of the above. Its Willy Wonka again with a dark blue filter over it. Now surely people will flock to the theater cause of the names involved, and thats fine, but really? The 1991 show was near flawless in story and tone, this should have been as such. Something to redeem Vampires after Twilight.

Now some of you will hate for this one, but..... Tim Burton needs to stop. Hes more about money than visions now. I expect that of Lucas, but since about..... Ed Wood hes been making non original stinkers. Ok, Sweeney Todd was tolorable, but wasnt anything that stuck out. Dude needs to keep painting and writing and stay away from film. Watching that trailer youd NEVER think this is the guy who did Batman (89) and Edward Scissorhands.

The fact you do not give any credit to Big Fish saddens me, that was by far one of Tim Burtons greatest movies, Albert Finney was robbed of the Academy Award he should have received for it.

With that said I will wait and see how this pans out, they are promoting as anything but a comedy so the trailer literally makes no sense to me in how it was cut

[Thatman]

The fact you do not give any credit to Big Fish saddens me, that was by far one of Tim Burtons greatest movies, Albert Finney was robbed of the Academy Award he should have received for it.

I have to agree with you there; Big Fish was a great film, and it's one of the few things of Burton's that I've liked from the last ten years or so, though to be fair I didn't mind Alice in Wonderland.