By Corrina Taylor
Staff Writer
The dynamic duo is reunited once more as Johnny Depp and Tim Burton have paired up to work on their eighth movie, Dark Shadows. Depp plays ominous vampire Barnabas Collins in this new refurbished version of the old television show. The show originally aired in 1966 and was more of a horror tale then the new movie.
This movie ties together the darker aspects of vampirism along with the subtle bits of humor throughout the movie, mostly from comedian Helen Bonham Carter, Burton’s 11-year partner, who plays a drunken psychiatrist.
It begins with the background of Barnabas Collins, showing the extensive work his family put in to build the Collins Manor and their influential role in Collinsport, Maine. Everything is going right for Barnabas until witch Angelique Bouchard, played by Eva Green, falls in love with him. Barnabas refuses her and, mad with jealousy, Bouchard puts a spell on Barnabas’ lover that forces her to jump off a cliff. She then turns Barnabas into a vampire so he will be forced to live with his agony forever, and buries him in a coffin bound with chains.
Two centuries later, the modern Collins family is facing financial difficulty as well as deep-rooted family issues. Head of the household Elizabeth Collins, Michelle Pfeiffer, juggles the depleting fishing business along with her bratty teenage daughter, bad-tempered brother, and psychologically disturbed nephew who sees the ghost of his dead mother. She has little help from live in psychiatrist Julia Hoffman, groundskeeper Willie Loomis and governess Victoria Winters.
When Barnabas returns to this broken family, he makes it his mission to restore his family honor by reviving the family fishing business and, in the process, help fix his family. He is soon faced with the competing fishing business that is owned by none other then the witch who cursed him. Barnabas must find the will to defeat her and save his family and his newfound love, Victoria, who is the reincarnation of his lover that was killed.
I was impressed with is the clash of the modern town against the longstanding and decrepit manor that looked as if it could be Dracula’s castle. The interior is beautifully furnished and had many details that made it look like there were secrets hidden within. The town on the other hand is cheerily decorated especially Bouchard’s office which took the more modern look that contrasted with the Collin’s shipyard.
The wardrobe is another impressive aspect; Depp is adorned in traditional vampiristic clothing unlike the preppy-guy clothing we are used to seeing on vampires like Edward Cullen. Since the setting was in the 1970s the clothing and characters were set to match as well, in one scene we see Barnabas associating with a gang of hippies who dressed and acted the part perfectly.
Overall the movie is enjoyable to watch. There are scenes that could have appeared in a horror movie, but there is still the overall comedic atmosphere that made it spectacular. Excluding a couple of scenes that I deemed unnecessary, the movie is just short of perfection. Depp’s extraordinary portrayal of Barnabas along with Burton’s directing skills really make the movie worthwhile.
Rating: A-
