Review of Dark Shadows (2012) by Evan E — 06 Aug 2013

Like Barnabas Collins, this one got buried alive by many critics, but I was kept entertained throughout despite the peculiar shifts in tone. First and foremost, the "look" of the film is just fantastic, as you'd expect from Tim Burton. The Collins mansion becomes a character itself with its creepy corridors and ornate moldings. More could have been utilized (what lurks in the old section? what hides down the other secret passages?) but as a setting with personality it is as memorable as Terry Gilliam's carnival wagon in Dr. Parnassus.

Like 97% of the audience, I have never seen any of the original Dark Shadows series, so Burton could take as many liberties as Patrick Henry and I wouldn't know the difference. Maybe after the literary raping that was Alice In Wonderland he realized he shouldn't tamper with a beloved work of fiction which EVERYONE knows. Johnny Depp gives a very good performance as Barnabas, managing to become the first vampire I've ever felt sympathy for. He commits heinous, savage acts of murder to feed his bloodlust, but he is forced to do so because of the centuries-old curse placed upon him by former lover Angelique. Eva Green is great as one of the most deliciously evil and vengeful characters I've seen in awhile. I've read complaints about how the story is too convoluted to follow, which makes me wonder what their benchmark for complex storytelling is - an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond?

Dark Shadows contains a curious mix of comedy and drama, but I would recommend it for the set design and engaging performances from Depp and Green. On the Burton scale, place it right alongside Sleepy Hollow.