I am tempted to start this review by giving a plot synopsis, but I'm actually really confused by the film's narrative. There's something about a witch, Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green), who has placed an evil curse over the Collins family, a once prominent name in the New England business world. Angelique's most notable act of evil comes when she turns former lover Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) into an immortal vampire.
The Collins family made their wealth by dominating the Maine seafood business; this was of course until Angelique's curses helped her competing line gain a competitive edge. Yes, Ms. Bouchard's primary motivation appears to come from her desire to sell quality fish products.
So, how do you combine stories involving vampires, forbidden love, and fishing boats? Apparently the answer is by producing a film that unfolds in a series of random scenes, none of which mesh together very well. Dark Shadows seems to be a collection of random skits, each with some gag or minor plot point as its basis.
It's as disconnected as it sounds. One scene will feature Barnabas mesmerized by the invention of television; another scene will then feature rock artist Alice Cooper performing at a party, the purpose of which is lost on me completely. A new gag or reference will follow that, but there's little that binds them all together.
A repeating theme seems to be the crush Barnabas has on Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcote), governess to the Collins' household. Victoria is hired to babysit the family's troubled youngster, David (Gulliver McGrath), who seems to be able to communicate with his dead mother.
Honestly, this is all even less developed and interesting than it sounds. All of the subplots get lost in the movie's chaotic approach to storytelling. I'm sad to report that no story arc is particularly engaging, and none receive any sort of proper resolution.
Dark Shadows is based on the 1960s soap opera of the same name. The television show was most notable for its shocking plot twists and melodramatic acting. The only real similarities between this movie and its source material are the character's names and those campy moments that make any soap opera so memorable.
Admittedly Tim Burton's Dark Shadows does have moments of camp greatness, and I did find some of the silliness to be quite entertaining. While it's highly unlikely that you'll find the plot to be very interesting, you will still find this movie to be a lot of fun. Just don't expect it to make sense.
If you aren't sold on the ridiculous humor, the film's visual style is a real treat. Even the boring bits are well produced, sporting some fantastic looking visuals. The lighting in Dark Shadows is particularly notable, borrowing slightly from other films directed by Burton, while managing to incorporate elements that made the television show look so unique.
The art direction is clearly inspired by classic monster movies, which is by no means a complaint. The combination of different gothic/horror visuals creates a spooky atmosphere befitting of a film that embraces the macabre.
I often criticize Tim Burton films for their overt sharing of visual style, but I don't have the same complaint with Dark Shadows. This movie is gorgeous, and in terms of photography and art direction, Dark Shadows is one of the best looking movies I have seen in a long time.
Sadly, the film as a whole is too mediocre to recommend. The fun moments, the great cast, and the cinematography are simply not enough to bolster this weak script. Even huge fans of Burton and Depp will find this film to be lacking substance. I wish I could find more to say, but there just isn't a whole lot about Dark Shadows that's worth mentioning.
It has some real moments that made me laugh and had me enjoyed, but Burton starts to lose himself by the end, therefore, he lost me. Could have been so much better and the only reason it is as good as it is, is because of Depp’s insane performance. Good review Chad.
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