TV to Movie adaptations are always a hit or miss affair. This film though is one of the hits, it's one of my favorite TV to Movie adaptation films, let alone the fact it's based on one of my favorite TV shows "Dark Shadows". To this day it still holds up and still surpasses the recent treatment from Tim Burton which I thought was ok, but as a fan of the series it wasn't what I had in mind and we could do better.
When I heard about this film, I was actually excited, I remember seeing that trailer which was a really cool trailer reminds me of the kind of trailers for Hammer films, and then in the last minutes we see a blood red graphic overlap the last image and that narrator says the tag line, "Come see how the vampires do it." Man, that tag line gave me chills but also excited me as it really tells your about to see the vampires do it right. It was also on an episode of "Elvira's Movie Macabre" which is a really funny episode and one of my favorites from her as she has some funny things to say about this film and the show, on a side note the actress is also a fan of the series.
For a TV to Movie adaptation and as a Dark Shadows fan, I was actually impressed not just that it stayed true to the spirt of the show but that in a way it stood out as a film on its own; the film almost feels like it could of easily of been one of the Hammer company's last movies.
The music is great, as usual they use some of the tracks from the original show but also there are a few new tracks mixed in. The effects are good, I'll admit watching this show I was amazed in seeing really good effects where in the original show most of them weren't so good. One effect we never saw in the show is of course blood effect which are good in this film, it not like super gory but you see blood spill all the same, like blood squirting out in a staking scene. But one effect that impressed me the most was seeing Barnaba's turning into an old man, which was done by one of my favorites make up effects legends Dick Smith whom of course did that same effect for the original show.
The production value of this film is impressive, yeah it was done on a low budget, but they used it very well. For fans of the show it was a real treat because on the original show it took place within a studio with a limited amount of sets, it was a daytime soap opera after all. But in this film, it really looks and feels like the grand vision Dan wanted to present us. I really like the use of the locations, especially the new Collins estate, which is still there, so any film/Dark Shadows fan that is into location visiting can go.
I really like that we actually get to see most of the outside of the estate, the crypt, the outside Collinwood, though my favorite is on the finale of the film seeing Barnaba's lair which has cobwebs, mist and coffins it was really creepy and has a throwback feel to the vampire films of yesteryear. But I also just like the use of the darkness, really give the movie it's gothic tone but also creates a spooky unsafe atmosphere, showing how the forces of darkness is slowly enveloping this beautiful land.
Just seeing those things showed how possible it was for the show to convert to be a prime-time soap, which it of course did with the underrated 1991 revival; but also seeing this really makes me want a recent revival.
Characters are really good, if you familiar with the show you pretty much know who's who, everyone is pretty much how you remember and seen them but in this film with slight differences which let you know this is an alternative version of the show your watching. There is even a cameo or two by a familiar face most notable the actor that played Nicolas Blair, here he's a different character.
Barnabas is still Barnabas though in this film he's a little more violent and on the evil end of things. Julia Hoffman is also good she's still herself only in this film she really gets in over her head and learns the hard way jealousy is a b....
Katherine Leigh Scott is hot as usual, she's still the same vibrant naive beauty Maggie Evans though in this film this time she sort of also in the Victoria Winters role because in this film she's a governess. Which I didn't mind and makes more sense story wise as Maggie is the reincarnation of Barnaba's love Josette.
James Karen is good as Willie as usual but what I like in this film is he actually has an interesting character arc which almost makes him the main protagonist in the film, which also kind of makes what happens in the end all the more satisfying. I really like when we see he is sort of the usual weak creep at first but then from what he goes though he grows more of a conscious and actually finds some meddle to do what he has to do in the end.
Roger Davis is good as Jeff Clarke, yeah, it's true like in the show he's the straight arrow type but that's not a bad thing. In a way he sort of represents us the every man, really like how he reacts to certain things it feel like how any of us may react. But it was also cool seeing him kick a little ass in this film from shooting silver bullets from a revolver at one of the vampires, down to using that crossbow that shoots out rocket stakes.
There is also the usual gothic melodrama which has a couple of good dynamics. The chemistry between Clark and Maggie is decent. It's kind of interesting considering if you know the show both characters were never a couple in the TV show. Though I'll admit that's one weak point of the film, both don't have enough scenes together; I really which there we're so there would be depth provided showing why both are right for one another.
Though I really like the chemistry between both Barnabas and Maggie, from their interaction you really could go either way. At first when things go well you feel Barnabas could have a life within the realm of the living.
But when things go to hell in a hand basket faster than the lid can be closed, it's kind of tragic because it's like Barnaba's last chance at love and even redemption is lost forever. And that lair of his in the final scene sort of reflects his state of mind where he is no longer a mortal that lives within our realm but a total monster that dwells in a realm where light and love doesn't exist.
Thought it's true this coffin does have a few splinters, first one I already stated. For one thing certain transitions in the film aren't very smooth, there are some scenes when some things happen but then suddenly it just jump cuts to another thing happening. Like in one scene, a character I won't say who, just out of the left field is a vampire, I couldn't help but think when and where in the film did this happened. It felt like a scene or a page from the script was missing.
Another splinter is there are a few too many charters in the film, which for fans of the show may put them off a little as most of the familiar faces in the film aren't in it enough which might make those characters seem slightly undeveloped and nothing more than background players. But since this an entire show condensed into a movie running time which has only a limited amount it couldn't be helped.
And like in the show I was in this film really for the central characters focused like Barnabas and Maggie whom are some of the main reason I watch the show in the first place, so I really can't complain much.
And the last is that this film didn't get a proper sequel, it did have a follow up which is "Night of Dark Shadows" but it wasn't very good nor did it feel like a real follow up as the story was too far removed from the series, let alone wasn't what the creator wanted in the first place.
After what looked like a sequel baited ending from this film, it really made me wonder what that real sequel would have been, would it be a movie version of the 1795 arc, or the film takes place years latter there is some vampire apocalypse around the world and Maggie and Jeff come back and have to not just fight of Barnabas again but also Angelique and Nicolas Blair. I don't know only in the realm of fan fiction will we have a proper sequel to this version of the "Dark Shadows" series.
If you're a fan of the show, this film is a real treat as you are seeing the show once more but on a bigger scale. For newcomers that never seen the show in their life, this film is a pretty good starting point but also is simply fun to watch as a stand-alone vampire film. Come see how the vampires do it.
Rating: 3 and a half stars
When I heard about this film, I was actually excited, I remember seeing that trailer which was a really cool trailer reminds me of the kind of trailers for Hammer films, and then in the last minutes we see a blood red graphic overlap the last image and that narrator says the tag line, "Come see how the vampires do it." Man, that tag line gave me chills but also excited me as it really tells your about to see the vampires do it right. It was also on an episode of "Elvira's Movie Macabre" which is a really funny episode and one of my favorites from her as she has some funny things to say about this film and the show, on a side note the actress is also a fan of the series.
For a TV to Movie adaptation and as a Dark Shadows fan, I was actually impressed not just that it stayed true to the spirt of the show but that in a way it stood out as a film on its own; the film almost feels like it could of easily of been one of the Hammer company's last movies.
The music is great, as usual they use some of the tracks from the original show but also there are a few new tracks mixed in. The effects are good, I'll admit watching this show I was amazed in seeing really good effects where in the original show most of them weren't so good. One effect we never saw in the show is of course blood effect which are good in this film, it not like super gory but you see blood spill all the same, like blood squirting out in a staking scene. But one effect that impressed me the most was seeing Barnaba's turning into an old man, which was done by one of my favorites make up effects legends Dick Smith whom of course did that same effect for the original show.
The production value of this film is impressive, yeah it was done on a low budget, but they used it very well. For fans of the show it was a real treat because on the original show it took place within a studio with a limited amount of sets, it was a daytime soap opera after all. But in this film, it really looks and feels like the grand vision Dan wanted to present us. I really like the use of the locations, especially the new Collins estate, which is still there, so any film/Dark Shadows fan that is into location visiting can go.
I really like that we actually get to see most of the outside of the estate, the crypt, the outside Collinwood, though my favorite is on the finale of the film seeing Barnaba's lair which has cobwebs, mist and coffins it was really creepy and has a throwback feel to the vampire films of yesteryear. But I also just like the use of the darkness, really give the movie it's gothic tone but also creates a spooky unsafe atmosphere, showing how the forces of darkness is slowly enveloping this beautiful land.
Just seeing those things showed how possible it was for the show to convert to be a prime-time soap, which it of course did with the underrated 1991 revival; but also seeing this really makes me want a recent revival.
Characters are really good, if you familiar with the show you pretty much know who's who, everyone is pretty much how you remember and seen them but in this film with slight differences which let you know this is an alternative version of the show your watching. There is even a cameo or two by a familiar face most notable the actor that played Nicolas Blair, here he's a different character.
Barnabas is still Barnabas though in this film he's a little more violent and on the evil end of things. Julia Hoffman is also good she's still herself only in this film she really gets in over her head and learns the hard way jealousy is a b....
Katherine Leigh Scott is hot as usual, she's still the same vibrant naive beauty Maggie Evans though in this film this time she sort of also in the Victoria Winters role because in this film she's a governess. Which I didn't mind and makes more sense story wise as Maggie is the reincarnation of Barnaba's love Josette.
James Karen is good as Willie as usual but what I like in this film is he actually has an interesting character arc which almost makes him the main protagonist in the film, which also kind of makes what happens in the end all the more satisfying. I really like when we see he is sort of the usual weak creep at first but then from what he goes though he grows more of a conscious and actually finds some meddle to do what he has to do in the end.
Roger Davis is good as Jeff Clarke, yeah, it's true like in the show he's the straight arrow type but that's not a bad thing. In a way he sort of represents us the every man, really like how he reacts to certain things it feel like how any of us may react. But it was also cool seeing him kick a little ass in this film from shooting silver bullets from a revolver at one of the vampires, down to using that crossbow that shoots out rocket stakes.
There is also the usual gothic melodrama which has a couple of good dynamics. The chemistry between Clark and Maggie is decent. It's kind of interesting considering if you know the show both characters were never a couple in the TV show. Though I'll admit that's one weak point of the film, both don't have enough scenes together; I really which there we're so there would be depth provided showing why both are right for one another.
Though I really like the chemistry between both Barnabas and Maggie, from their interaction you really could go either way. At first when things go well you feel Barnabas could have a life within the realm of the living.
But when things go to hell in a hand basket faster than the lid can be closed, it's kind of tragic because it's like Barnaba's last chance at love and even redemption is lost forever. And that lair of his in the final scene sort of reflects his state of mind where he is no longer a mortal that lives within our realm but a total monster that dwells in a realm where light and love doesn't exist.
Thought it's true this coffin does have a few splinters, first one I already stated. For one thing certain transitions in the film aren't very smooth, there are some scenes when some things happen but then suddenly it just jump cuts to another thing happening. Like in one scene, a character I won't say who, just out of the left field is a vampire, I couldn't help but think when and where in the film did this happened. It felt like a scene or a page from the script was missing.
Another splinter is there are a few too many charters in the film, which for fans of the show may put them off a little as most of the familiar faces in the film aren't in it enough which might make those characters seem slightly undeveloped and nothing more than background players. But since this an entire show condensed into a movie running time which has only a limited amount it couldn't be helped.
And like in the show I was in this film really for the central characters focused like Barnabas and Maggie whom are some of the main reason I watch the show in the first place, so I really can't complain much.
And the last is that this film didn't get a proper sequel, it did have a follow up which is "Night of Dark Shadows" but it wasn't very good nor did it feel like a real follow up as the story was too far removed from the series, let alone wasn't what the creator wanted in the first place.
After what looked like a sequel baited ending from this film, it really made me wonder what that real sequel would have been, would it be a movie version of the 1795 arc, or the film takes place years latter there is some vampire apocalypse around the world and Maggie and Jeff come back and have to not just fight of Barnabas again but also Angelique and Nicolas Blair. I don't know only in the realm of fan fiction will we have a proper sequel to this version of the "Dark Shadows" series.
If you're a fan of the show, this film is a real treat as you are seeing the show once more but on a bigger scale. For newcomers that never seen the show in their life, this film is a pretty good starting point but also is simply fun to watch as a stand-alone vampire film. Come see how the vampires do it.
Rating: 3 and a half stars