Tuesday, May 15, 2012

MOVIE REVIEW ... DARK SHADOWS

 

Dark shadowsBased on an American daytime soap opera running from 1966 – ’71, ‘Dark Shadows’ has had a lasting influence.  Shows such as ‘Twin Peaks’ and ‘True Blood’ have borrowed from its many gothic contrivances and has obviously influenced this movies’ creative talents.  Self-confessed fans Johnny Depp and Tim Burton team up once again to create an ode to a show they grew up watching with its unique undertones given a new spin.

After breaking the heart of vengeful witch Angelique (Eva Green), Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) is buried alive.  Over 200 years later his is accidentally freed and aims to restore his family’s name.  Returning to his once prized mansion he meets his descendants who have several secrets of their own.  With Angelique still lurking in the shadows, Barnabas attempts to unearth the mysteries of his blood-line and banish evil into an unforgiving darkness.

Opting for a blancmange of styles from comedy, fantasy and drama, ‘Dark Shadows’ is a decidedly mixed bag.  Whilst the actors gleefully portray their very odd roles with aplomb, the script they’re given is unfocussed.  Characters appear and vanish without explanation with much needed exposition missing.  Burton’s insistence on injecting over the top humour to the story also harms an otherwise good movie.  Occasionally there’s a feel he and Depp are on auto-pilot with their partnership perhaps in too much of a creative comfort zone.

Saving it is some fantastic production design successfully evoking early 70’s kitsch and a plot moving at a cracking pace.  The original TV series’ eye for the macabre is thankfully intact as well as some outlandish twists well known in the soapie genre.  Fans of the show may see a few nods to the past with a style evoking the original setting quite well.  Although the finale walks a well-worn path the way towards it is enjoyable enough with Burton’s typical directorial flourishes in evidence.

‘Dark Shadows’ may have its faults but it’s an amiable enough ride.  It also proves how near 50 year old series can continue to thrive long after their demise – just like the many ghosts the films strange characters continually face.

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Movie Review Rating 6 / 10

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

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Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia.

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SOUNDTRACK

Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series (Deluxe Edition)

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