Review of Dark Shadows (2012) by Isadore F — 16 Jun 2013
This is definitely a sign that Tim Burton and Johnny Depp either need to part ways or take a big step back and start picking more wisely. Dark Shadows follows a newly awakened vampire in the 20th century as he tries to deal with thr loss of his family honor and business.
Not having seen the original show, I can't have much to compare this film to. However, having seen almost all of Burton's previous works, I have much to compare this to. Dark Shadows is a prime example of too much money and not enough love.
Burton's best films are ones that are usually low budget and personal in a sense. This film just feels like the studio digging its claws in deeper and deeper each time he tried to step out of the box.
The film never finds a consistent tone. It bounces from comedy to drama to horror, and it never really does either very well. There are some decent jokes, but not much outside of that. As for the acting, almost everyone except for Eva Greene seemed to be phoning it in, especially Depp.
When your main star doesn't look like he's having any fun, how are we supposed to. The film barely has a plot, mostly acting as a fish out of water tale, but drops that a little after the mid-way point.
If there's something to marvel at here, it's the set design and costumes. It's easily recognizable as a Burton film as soon as it starts with the dark and gloomy, yet somehow vibrant sets and costumes.
However, sets and costumes cannot save a film that seems to not want to have been made in the first place.
This review of Dark Shadows (2012) was written by Isadore F on 16 Jun 2013.
Dark Shadows has generally received mixed reviews.
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