Wonderful character development!

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

I have always been a fan of the ORIGINAL Dark Shadows series and movies! So when I saw that they were coming out with a "new" version of the DS film (which started Fri. in theaters),and I saw the previews - I just shook my head at how ridiculous they have turned a campy, cult-favorite horror series/movie and turned it into a goof-spoof. Johnny Depp plays Barnabas Collins makes Collin's character no longer the romantic, Gothic-love-lost-revenge-seeking vampire that Jonathan Frid played so well. Instead, Depp makes Collins look like a bumbling, buck-toothed Nosferatu-turned-Not-for-a-lot-clue nerd, only made worse by the living folks who bring him "up-to-date" with the new world. If you are into good, classic "Gothic Horror" from the 1950-70's, then this Dark Shadows movie is a great place to start! All the cast from the show are in the movie, and the house where they filmed the movie & show is in Tarrytown NY called "Lynnhurst Castle" - and is filled with paranormal activity! Ghosthunters "TAPS" of SciFyTV did an investigation there even! This is a fun movie - not too scary or gory, but a nice little horror story that may leave you sleeping with a light on or a crucifix pendant....just in case! ;o)

Personally I hate soap operas from their crappy and overlong story lines, unrelatable and unbelievable characters, and just simply being boring as hell at least that's my opinion. However this show is the only exception I make because it is what most to all of them aren't actually good. This wasn't just a show back them it was a phenomenon that was a huge influence for TV shows "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Angel", and a little of "Once Upon a Time". But most importantly the show was revolutionary for it's time because it helped bring monsters from the horror genre we know and love translated to our modern times.I got into this show when I was about 11, one day decided out of boredom to give it a shot and of course I watched more and more and soon it grew to become a show I really like. I'm just going to present at least five reasons why I like this show.1. It's funny well uninterionally: Yeah this show had a lot of hiccups from it's budget and technological limitations it has some of the worst special effects I've seen or non existent effects, it was hilalrous. But that to me is part of the shows charm it's like those amateur films from independent production companies like "Dead Gentlemen" and "Zombie Oupaus" despite the limitations they are entertaining all the same because you can see they really try and it's the same with this show. The limitations of the show were to it's advantage because it gave the show an almost lighthearted sensibility about it which re enforced the fun of the show. 2. The use of progressing story arcs: What I love about these story arcs are each of them are used the right way because they are actually interesting and do add up to something. From this and what goes on I actually found myself caring and it really felt like what happened next mattered. 3. 1790 episode arc: Alright this is really more opinion of episode but it's a good enough reason. This arc is my favorite of the entire show and I personally is is what most Pre Sequels fail to be. What made this intriguing is even though we have been given some info on the past we really don't know all of the details, and as Victoria Winters discovered the hard way most of what we've known is false which gives the story it's mystery element. But also from how much you invest emotional in the love stories with Josette and Barnabas as well as Peter and Victoria it was all the more suspenseful and sad because we know what's going to happen and I wished to God it wouldn't but their was nothing I could do about it.4. Sense of participation: Throughout what happens in the episode and the knowledge we hold, there are time I couldn't help but at times say out loud "No don't do it Barnabas, don't bite her" or even "Don't go over there your going to die." This is all because of how much emotional investment and time we have spent on the show, and that is a good feeling I don't get often.5. The colorful characters: Yeah this show had tons of characters and usually that's not always a good idea but here it works because of the characters in the show were actually fully developed which was something most shows back then lacked. They really felt human at times because the characters make good and bad choices which puts them in a gray area at times, or even do things that can at times put us at odds with how we feel. But most importantly we actually cared about them what happened with them mattered. I'll just say four characters I really like since there is no room.Barnabas Collins: He's a great character due to how dark and complex he is and yet at times is capable of warmth. I like the fact that his character is one like the protagonists in the "Elmare Lennard" stories is crippled both psychologically and physically with his vampirism. He is capable of heroism as well as viciousness necessary or unnecessary. He's also a person plagued by great loss of his lover Josette and is struggling to move on.Angelique du Pres: She is one of my favorite fictional villains because she is one that you love to hate. From the amount of menace she displays she is someone you wouldn't want to be alone in a room with. However what makes her the most interest is that fact she is somewhat sympathetic, there are times you feel bad for her because her feelings of love for Barnabas are genuine. However she does cross the line which at times makes you plain hate her.Dr. Julia Hoffman: I like how she is a person of science but she is also open minded to the realm of the supernatural. She is dark and gutsy which made her a great sidekick for Barnabas and personally I felt both of them as a romance couple are a better match. It's true she's not the most beautiful but from her persona she's almost even more attractive that the other women. Maggie Evans: I remember when I was a kid(I said I was a kid) I had a crush on Kathern Leigh Scott she was just so fraking hot and with the persona to boot. The naivety, vibrancy, even charisma of her character perfectly reflected her beauty. It's always great seeing her happy and whenever she was in trouble or depressed you really felt sad, it was times like that I almost wanted to just come to her rescue.Well I've said enough, so visit Collinwood but beware there are creatures lurking in the shadows.Rating: 4 stars

I picked up the special edition Dark Shadows disc commemorating the Gothic soap featuring episodes celebrating the immortal (pun intended) Barnabas Collins, chosen by popularity. Because IMDb doesn't have an episode listing (boo!), I will have to edit this review with the episodes featured.The first is Episode 221 where Barnabas eyes waitress Maggie, striking up a conversation after the diner has closed. This has dialogue about his wolfshead cane, as the two become acquainted. It is obvious even here Barnabas's intentions, his infatuation with the innocent and sweet Maggie, and how whiny, weak servant Willie expresses his concern for her as his master becomes irritated at his accusations. Barnabas tells her that he is a cousin of Elizabeth Stoddard and will be staying at the decrepit "Old House" near Collins' master house. Maggie's boyfriend, Joe, mentions a near-attack on a local girl and we hear the cries of restless dogs, not to mention, the ominous nature surrounding Barnabas, that palpable menace is established excellently in this great episode. Remember that this is a soap opera so dialogue and performance, as well as, staging, are of particular importance so Dark Shadows won't be for everyone. The inspiration of Dracula is obvious during this period of Dark Shadows, but to the soap's credit, it would eventually evolve beyond this source of vampire lore.Watching Episode 349 just has me yearning for the entire series of Dark Shadows. It concerns an aged Barnabas (the horrifying results of Dr. Julia Hoffman's failed experiments to cure his vampirism) aching from the wrinkled body he now has and how Hoffman tries to convince him to feed from the blood of Victoria Winters in order to regain his youthful appearance. Meanwhile Carolyn Stoddard speaks with both Victoria and Joe about her concerns regarding boy cousin David's fear of Barnabas. Lots of story is covered in this episode but I felt you long to have seen these events covered in conversations. Carolyn is the device who fills us into what has been missed; in particular, David's seeing Sarah, a girl considered fictional, and the complex relationship between Hoffman and Barnabas is noticeable. Willie is in prison, and Carolyn will soon be Barnabas victim, herself to be a vampire. Also, Hoffman's in love with Barnabas so her motivations regarding his using Victoria for a meal has ulterior motives, at the forefront jealousy. It is hard not to envy what is missing while watching this set as huge leaps are taken per episode featured.

Dark Shadows is a Gothic TV show of the likes of which has never been seen before and we likely will never see anything quite like it again. Dark Shadows began as a traditional soap opera but soon found a charm in Gothic story lines borrowed from classic works of literature like Jane Eyre, Turn of the Screw and Dracula.The show is extremely atmospheric with subtle nods to several classic works of Gothic literature from Bram Stoker's Dracula and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. I think I like the series best in the 700 to 900 or so episodes (there were over 1,200 episodes) because I feel the show really hit it's stride there. The first 210 episodes are forgettable but once Barnabas Collins joins the show things gradually start to improve and fast becomes the most compelling, complex, Gothic creation to ever appear on television.Dark Shadows is part drama, part Gothic horror and part science fiction, including such plot lines as the vampire, Barnabas Collins, having to time travel to 1897 in order to save a man from becoming a malicious ghost that torments children in 1968. The show is so iconic that it can boast to being the first thing to ever air on the Scifi channel. When the Scifi Channel first started the first thing they ever aired was the introduction of Barnabas Collins (episodes 210 and 211) of Dark Shadows.I strongly recommend Dark Shadows for anyone who loves a good, spooky Gothic horror-fantasy romance or even urban fantasy. There is a brilliant timelessness to Dark Shadows that I've seen in few other things such as Hammer Horror movies and Tim Burton films. I strongly recommend Dark Shadows.