Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Disappointment for a huge fan!

brilliant actors, brilliant editing

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

I watched this series recently, in order to compare it to the film with the same name that was released in 2012. The first thing I noticed was the difference in tone: if the film is clearly a black comedy, this little series (a revival of an extensive TV series of the sixties) is drama with supernatural contours and some Gothic touch. Another thing I quickly noticed is that, sadly, it has never been finished. I am against television serials that extend indefinitely, just as I am against the abrupt cut of these by audience concerns. They're matters of respect for the viewer, the actors and the team engaged in the whole project. A quality series must finish before it becomes decadent, with a rational conclusion. However, when a series is interrupted or canceled, the best is to give a logical end to the work begun, even if one has to write and run one or two more episodes. I think its a matter of respect, but its just my opinion about that.I really enjoyed the gloomy atmosphere surrounding the show and the work of the general cast, where the sounding names of Ben Cross, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Barbara Steele and Jean Simmons promise us commitment and quality. The special effects and soundtrack are also good. I think that if the series had been launched at the moment, it would have been more successful than it ended up, but it was a successful environment anyway, which only regrets the lack of conclusion.

I understand what they were trying to do with this, trying to make this a higher budget more coherent version of the 60's show, but geeeez, I really couldn't stand it. I must agree with the other reviewer who said the actresses on this show aren't nearly as beautiful as the ones from the 60's especially Josette. Was there ever a question as to why this "revival" show has been forgotten but the 60's/70's soap opera is still talked about to this day? The original show had a certain special charm to it, yes it was a bit goofy and yes it had some over the top acting and some ridiculous plots, but...that's what made the show entertaining and fun to watch! I cant imagine dark shadows without all those wonderful overacting stage actors and constant flubs. it makes the show very memorable even if it was unintentional. ben cross does not at all have the charisma or likability that Johnathen Frid had. in fact he flat out irritated me. He was too handsome and I don't know, BBC actor-ish. the older cast of the this revival was not bad, though I couldn't help thinking that barbera steele though would have been great in the original DS as some kinda ghoul.The fact is, Dark Shadows was a product of its time. it worked much better in the 60's and 70's when it was made. it had this goofy charm but also had compelling story lines. This new one just had me shaking my head. it was too polished, too serious, and had none of the stage-like performances. this is why I actually enjoyed the recent Tim Burton movie, because it was great how they tried to recreate the campy over the top fun of the 60's show and decided to not take itself too seriously, and they even had it take place in the 70's, which is the time period the show was made. it actually felt much more "dark shadows" because of that feel, and felt like the 60's show more.The one thing I DO wish they would do is bring a show like this back to todays modern television, but NOT using DS characters or stories, but a good Gothic horror show taking place in the past, similar to DS. Lord knows we need some class and sophistication brought back to the vampire genre, and enough with these today hip hyper sexual teen garbage like "true blood" "vampire diaries" and the like. utter nonsense when compared to Dark Shadows.

Prime time remake of the classic soap opera. Governess Victoria Winters (Joanna Going) goes to the town of Collinsport to take care of young David Collins (a VERY young Joseph Gordon-Levitt). She stays a Collinwood a HUGE mansion run by Elizabeth (Jean Simmons) and Roger (Roy Thinnes) Collins. Meanwhile, in the local cemetery, good for nothing Willie Loomis (Jim Fyfe) opens a coffin looking for jewels. This resurrects Barnabas Collins (Ben Cross) a vampire and he proceeds to attack the Collins family while romancing Victoria who is the resurrection of his dead fiancée. Got all that? I'm a big fan of the old TV series. It was badly acted and moved slow but it was full of vampires, werewolves, ghosts and witches and it was never boring. It played on afternoons (around 3:30 or so) and kids ran home to see it. In 1990 NBC decided to revamp it as a night time soap and started it off with this 5 hour movie (shown over two nights). The plot for this was a combination of the old TV series and the "House of Dark Shadows" movie. The acting is pretty terrible. All the younger women in the cast are beautiful with limited acting ability. It's pretty obvious they were chosen for their looks and nothing else. Going is OK but the rest are hopeless. The same goes for the guys (although Michael T. Weiss and Gordon-Levitt try). Ben Cross, in the main role, is tall and handsome but lacks the charisma to make Barnabas work. (In Cross' defense he hated doing the series--and it comes through loud and clear). However it does have an eerie atmosphere, was shot on beautiful locations and was pretty bloody for a TV series. The fast pace helps too. This led to a short-lived (4 months) TV series which wasn't bad either. So this is worth seeing but it ends with a cliffhanger leading into the series. I give it an 8.

I watched Dark Shadows The Revival Series when it first aired on NBC back in 91. I Was 10 years old and I loved the show.I was bummed that it was aired weekly but i looked forward to each and every episode and was bummed when the mini series was over. I went on line last year to try to find it on DVD, but no luck. I'm looking forward to it to be released on DVD. >>>>> I seen it was to be released on October 18. Was it? I can not find it at any of the stores where I live :( If I do though I will definitely buy it:) Ben Cross was excellent as Barnanbas Collins and the rest of the cast was good too. I never watched the original Dark Shadows, but now that it is on DVD I will be checking it out to see if the Revival Series is better than the original.