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Dark Shadows 2012

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Every family has its demons.

Tim Burton directs this comedy adaptation of the cult gothic-horror TV series (which ran from 1966-1971). Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Michelle Pfeiffer and Chloë Moretz. More

In the 16th Century, the English-born Barnabas Collins (Depp) is living a wealthy and powerful life as an American playboy in the town of Collinsport, Maine. But after breaking the heart of a secretive witch, Barnabas is turned into a vampire and buried alive for 200 years. Upon his release in the year 1972, he finds his once-thriving establishment to be in tatters, with his descendants equally as broken.

This will mark the eighth pairing of Burton and Depp, the seventh pairing of Burton and Bonham Carter (Burton's wife), and the fourth pairing of Depp and Bonham Carter in a Burton film. Hide

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151 votes / 44 comments The Talk

  • 80 %

    Want to See it

    What say you?

    • AMjones

      This looks AWESOME. Been waiting for this for years, hopefully it will mean it will be easier to find Dark Shadows dvds/merch now!

    • fly golden eagle

      this looks amazing!

    • Ice

      the movie looks great

    • Mr G

      Fantastic! lol Bring it on!!

    • tim burton lover

      shot tim burton

    • Esta*

      LOOKS AWESOME!!

    • Aaron

      Tim Burton is God.

    • Mr PJ

      Hmm..Did we just watch the best of the film or is there some substance beyond JD's rehash of Captain Jack

    • Steven

      Ummmmmm thats all I can say

    • Mr G

      Just watched this trailer again, yep, I think thats two thumbs up!! :)

    • shopqueen

      are tim and johnny joined at the hips? I think so

    • Matt

      Vampires! Jhonny depp! Tim Burton! Chole Mortez! EEEEEEEKKKK! (Faint)

    • beks

      yay

    • Mr G

      I wish I was joined at the hip with Eva Green...

    • nella

      gotta love johnnayy!!

    • Lucy

      Cant wait to see this movie I love johnny deep!!!!!

    • moli

      hurry up May 11.

    • forever

      Awesome Movie.Johnny you rock as Dracula a very humorous Movie with lots of twists.Kind of an Adams family.Can't wait to get it on DVD.

    • Nisha

      Didn't think the movie would be good but it is brilliant. Definitely a must see movie.

    • Amy

      Was ok. Would not rush to the movies to see it.

    • John

      I wouldn't say it was brilliant, but it was definitely entertaining, thank you for the double pass.

    • Tara

      A fantastically "Burtonesque" movie. A well selected cast, making for a movie well worth seeing. Thanks flicks for the preview!! Go see it!

    • Erica

      Watched it last night. It was a nice /cute movie. Thanks for the double pass!

    • al2point0

      Terrible, no direction, plot floundered. Didn't know what type of film it wanted to be. Horror (wasn't scary) comedy (wasn't funny).

    • Hannah

      Loved it, Eva Green and Michelle Pheiffer = gorgeous and Johnny Depp - fantastic as always. Loved it. Evolution of Tim Burton

    • Dave W

      An obviously respectful treatment of the original TV series, but surprisingly slow paced and with far too mannered dialogue.

    • Anna K

      Cheesy but lots of fun. Good to see a vampire actually drinking blood for a change too!

    • jubeedoo

      Better than expected - a bit of a return to form for Burton! Not glorious, but an entertaining romp, worth it for the bizarre characters.

    • Honey

      Good for a family romp. Surprisingly funny in parts.

    • lucky

      love it so much

    • redboarder

      I enjoyed it - it was good

    • facebook

      cool

    • xoxox

      xoxoxox

    • facebook

      this is soo cool

    • amelia

      so cool xoxox

    • logan

      OMG FUKEN AWSME

    • Nina and Katelin

      this movie looks good but long and boring

    • lola

      shut up mia

    • tayla

      hehehehe this looks so cool me and jayda are about to see it and hope it is good and ice age 3 looks good as we'll

    • demm9

      the kwlest movie,ive seeen it

    • Nicki4

      Awesome movie!

    • lily

      hey i love the trailer and the movie and johnny depp ahhhhhh lol :)

    • kate

      this movie trailer is like awesome i wish i would be out on dvd so i can buy it

    • angie

      seen it and i loved it

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Flicks.co.nz Review

Rating:

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  • anonamis

    this is awesome writing not soooo dumb

  • anonamis

    i like your wirting well it's alot of wirting especialy charlie and the chcolate factory

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Dominic Corry Flicks Writer

Whilst not quite the triumph we might have been hoping for, this lushly produced gothic comedy is director Tim Burton’s best film since 2003’s Big Fish. More

Depp, who was so annoying in Alice and Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Burton’s worst films if you take Planet of the Apes out of the picture) is no less affected in his performance here, but for some reason it just works.

I recoiled when I saw the scene of him trying to find the little people in the television, in the trailer, but it’s his character’s lack of familiarity with the modern era (well, 1972) that provides most of the film’s best jokes. The hippy scene alone is worth the price of admission.

Re-teaming with his old collaborator, production designer Rick Heinrichs, proves to be a great move for Burton and the look of the film evokes the best parts of Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands and Mars Attacks!

Helena Bonham Carter has the coolest look, but Michelle Pfeiffer and Chloë Grace Moretz have more to do, and they’re both excellent. Eva Green stomps around with too much lipstick on, but seems to be having a lot of fun as the baddie, while former Neighbours star Bella Heathcote steps up in a major way to play the love interest. Her enormous eyes bode well for her future career.

The plot feels a tad directionless, but the baroque proceedings always held my interest throughout. I like that Burton is looking to his past for inspiration here, but he has a way to go to reclaim his status as mainstream Hollywood’s boldest visual filmmaker. Hide

The People's Reviews

Rating:

24 ratings and 24 reviews

All reviews (24)

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Almost back to Glory days

CWright B-Grader (?)

I must admit I was worried about this movie.. I adore Tim Burton but his movies of late have been less than desirable.
I was happy to be surprised how much I enjoyed this movie, Everything came together well and the story was easy to follow and had a good ending. The costumes (like any Tim Burton film) were amazing and the make up makes it feel more whimsical.
I laughed at all the jokes but also felt for Johnny Depp's character which can somethings get lost in Fantasy/Comedy.
Not the best Tim Burton/Johnny Depp film but definitely heading in the right direction and well worth a trip to the flicks :)

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Dark Shadows

Chaddorama B-Grader (?)

This film is a little different to what I was expecting really. I didn't find myself laughing as much as I though I would be.

I give this film three stars, because it's not a bad film and definitely has an exceptional cast. Johnny Depp never fails to please, Helena Bonham Carter is a delight, Chloe Moretz is a ball of fun and what could be sexier than Michelle Pfeiffer with a shotgun? Just saying.

I feel like I'm always being too generous with my rating because of my bias as Michelle Pfeiffer is in it. I feel like the screen writers could have done a lot better. About 2/3's through the film I couldn't help but wonder where the film was going. But in the end it was neatly wrapped up I suppose.

Still worth a look at. I would still pay admission fee to see this, rather than wait for DVD release.

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Dark Shadows

forever Nobody (?)

I went along to the film expecting a Horror Film..But it ended up being more of a comedy.Johnny Depp was awesome the man is so good as a Charter Actor and in make up Haha.A great cast Helena Bonham Carter as the Alcoholic Psychiatrist Michelle Pfeiffer as the head of the family .I thought the film was kind of like The Adams family but The Collins Family instead.Pfeiffer.A little bit different but well worth going to see.

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Meh

Pawel-Smuga B-Grader (?)

Not bad, not that great either though. Took a while for it to exciting/not boring, but about halfway through it started to pick up some pace.
The visuals and special effects were well done, especially Chloe Moretz and her porcelain like body. Great story but just lacking the oomph factor Johnny normally adds.
Im glad its not the typical Twighlight rubbish, but a few less characters would have added a bit more depth into the love story or other less background and more of the story at hand.

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  • Dusty

    I really enjoyed it as all Burton films. Took me awhile to spot Helena Bonham Cater as she llooked very different to her normal characters.

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Dark Shadows

bunny Nobody (?)

It was a good movie. Johnny Depp's performance was awesome (as always). I wonder whether Tim Burton will create "Dark Shadow 2" near future or not... ?!

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Impressed

Ryan_Dickson Nobody (?)

It did take a short while to get into, but once you got sucked into the story line it did get real interesting, great special effects and brilliant performances, Michelle Pfeiffer was great! Recommended highly to all my friends after seeing the preview screening!

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Worth a look

Mands Wannabe (?)

An amusing way to spend a couple of hours, as always Johnny Depp makes the film, although I did enjoy Helena Bohnam Carter's performance as well - costumes and set design were fabulous.

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Dark Shadows

Jananthan-Sri Nobody (?)

Movie was quite awesome. I was expecting it to be a full on comedy, but it had a bit of everything. It was different movie and I loved it.. :)

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Amusing

chocmoose Nobody (?)

Quirky and humorous although not laugh-out-loud. Fantastic costuming and makeup. Brilliant music. Always love Johnny Depp. Could have had a bit more depth to the film but overall an enjoyable watch.

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Same old same old

Daniel-Mcclure Nobody (?)

I'm not going to put down this movie, it's a great popcorn flick. Many of the themes from Burton's past films are apparent in this film and feels like the same formula he's been using over the past 22 years.

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DepBurton Lacks Bite

adamatdramatrain Flicks Superstar (?)

Tim Burton and Johnny Depp together... again? Who knew? Ok, so they made a great team for the two Ed's ('Edward Scissorhands' and 'Ed Wood') but frankly, since then, their work has varied between the mildly ok ('Charlie & The Chocolate Factory'); the pretty ok ('Sweeny Todd'), and the frankly not ok in a billion years ('Alice In Wonderland.') So the prospect of yet another DepBurton quasi-Goth outing did not inspire me... And, sad to say, 'Dark Shadows' lived down to my expectations. I've never clapped eyes on the US TV series on which this is based so I can't be offended by DepBurton's modern take, which whilst certainly not dreadful is just mildly entertaining. Mind you it has some genuine laughs as Depp's fish-outta-water vampire, Barnabas Collins, awakes from a two-century nap and must bumble about in 1972. Depp handles the physical comedy with his usual Jack Sparrow-relish and he's ably supported by the likes of Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Chloe Grace Moretz, Johnny Lee Miller, Jackie Earle Haley, Christopher Lee and, er... Alice Cooper. The early scenes of Depp's vampire adapting to the seventies are by far the most successful, but the film unravels and literally loses the plot by the midpoint. Mind you, 'Dark Shadows' features sumptuous costumes; Goth-inspired art direction and an excellent seventies soundtrack selection. Think 'Sleepy Hollow' but with the slapdash script and hit-or-misfire humour of 'Mars attacks.' Yup - we've seen it all before. What 'Dark Shadows' needed was a decent script - but what we get is a lacklustre effort with a risible third act and precious little attempt to balance comedy and drama. The result? A hodgepodge, or "DepBurton" as it's now known. Mind you I've still not forgiven Depp for the horror of 'The Tourist' or Burton for his horrific 'Planet of the Apes' "reimagining" so what do I know? Anyway - two stars: one for the sporadic laughs and superb supporting cast, and one for the scintillating seventies soundtrack.

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Typical Burton/Depp fare

yournamehere Wannabe (?)

One definitely for the fans - story had potential, but ended up losing steam. Depp, as always, is in top form, Pfeiffer - well suited to her role, Jonny Lee Millers character was never fully formed which was a shame. Costumes and makeup were great (although at some points distracting), score and music was spot on!

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  • InsertNameHere

    Agreed, started off amazing in my opinion but towards the ending I felt it lacking and a bit random.

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Didn't live up to expectations

RM Nobody (?)

Great acting from a stellar cast and fantastic special effects could not make up for the script. Still an enjoyable movie, but I was left with a feeling that it could have been so much better.

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A DVD at home movie

Andrew-Metge Nobody (?)

The movie has been filmed well and the lighting and effects are great with a good, well-suited cast, however, its nothing special. This is a DVD on a rainy saturday night movie if you know what I mean

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Ok, I'd hire it on DVD.

Robert-Taylor Wannabe (?)

Started good but then towards the middle the story started boring me. The visual effects and music were great though.

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Loved it.

MBullimore Nobody (?)

There are not too many movies these day that can keep me fully entertained from go to woe without checking my watch to see how much time I have wasted but this was one.
Dark Shadows is great fun with some wonderful performances from a great cast.

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Fun Flick!

MovieMan Nobody (?)

This film was pure entertainment from the get go. Interesting characters, art and cinematography.

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  • Brian

    Would not reccomend this film to anyone especially Tim Burto fans. Its basically a load of *****

  • BrionyJae

    (*it's...) Ah well, everyone has a different opinion!

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Wonderfully Weird

BrionyJae Flicks Superstar (?)

Okay, so clearly the team that is Tim Burton and Johnny Depp (and Helena Bonham Carter!) is epic for a reason - and this film definitely shows flashes of this developed genius! Dark Shadows is a quirky mix of comedy and gothic, often within the very same scene - the hippie campfire springs to mind - and somehow, it just works. No one does quirky better than Johnny Depp, after all. And to be honest, the whole film really was carried by his performance. Of course I also enjoyed Helena Bonham Carter's role, but she didn't have all that much screen time. The other characters were mildly interesting, and had their moments, but weren't completely spectacular either. Eva Green was the least impressive for me, which is probably because I expected her to be something more exciting, as the main 'villain'. But despite this, there's just a certain... charm to this film! One aspect which particularly captured my attention was the use of music throughout the film - I couldn't help but notice it because sometimes, the choice of music was so unusual but so *perfect* at the same time that it just stood out. Hence the quirky, and the wonderfully weird. Makes for a good evening spent :)

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  • Murray

    IO have ti diagree with your review and had an absolute hoot with regard to your spelling andgrammar

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Darkly lite Shadows

RealityCheck Flicks Superstar (?)

Dark Shadows
Predicably its a Tim Burton and Johnny Depp mash up, much like 'Edward Scisorhands' and a kin to 'Interview with a Vampire'. It is, of course a wonderfully delightful piece of film making, however if you didnt enjoy 'Corpes Bride' then it may not be your cup of tea. Basically, thats it, tho I did like the reasoning for Depp to want to sleep in a coffin. With make-up and some reminders of 'Death Becomes Her' I enjoyed it, however would not watch it twice.
Genre : horror, comedy, fantasy, vampire,
2/5 : get work on a good film but seemd overly produced for satire more than humour

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Burton And Depp make their Beetlejuice

Jordan Flicks Superstar (?)

There were no surprises when Tim Burton announced that his next film would be one based on the cult hit 70's TV show "Dark Shadows", nor were there any when Johnny Depp was announced to star.
In fact, it may have shown that the current audience may be suffering from some form of Burton/Depp fatigue.

Which is unfortunate, because from their long career together, Burton and Depp have stumbled upon a fantastic homage to a show many won't remember nor know of.

"Dark Shadows" tells the tale of Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), a man born into earned wealth during the 1700's and who lives in the town of Collinswood, a town that carries his family name.
He falls in love with Josette Du Pres, earning the scorn of the witch Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) who turns him into a vampire and seals him away for 200 years.
When he awakes, it is the 70's and he finds his cousin Elizabeth (Michelle Pfeiffer) and her family, brother Roger (Jonny Lee Miller) and his son David (Gulliver McGrath), her daughter Carolyn (Chloe Moretz), the family psychiatrist Dr Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), house servants Willie Loomis (Jackie Earl Haley) and Mrs Johnson (Ray Shirley) and governess, Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcote) in a state unfitting of the Collins name.
Barnabas takes it upon himself to return the family to its former glory.

The film carries all the trademarks of a Burton film. Beautiful, surreal worlds brimming with darkness and intimate, whacky characters so fitting of all his previous work.
The story is well crafted, especially considering how fantastical it is, and the cast under Burton's guide delivers strongly.

As previously said, the drawback for this film could be that of the Burton/Depp fatigue.
And if that's the only thing that stops you from seeing it, then you are missing out on a treat.

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Masters Of Their Craft

GrahamP Flicks Superstar (?)

This is one good movie.
It is a love story like no other and it just works.The artistry of Tim Burton the film maker really shows through.A very slick production! It is also an example of flawless acting by Jonny Depp.
The whole story is very believable and holds the viewer for the entire film.The sets,the makeup,the humour all add to the experience.
It could be a little quirky for some but does make for an enjoyable two hours at the movies.

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Yawn Fest

Moose B-Grader (?)

WOW. Quite a few 4 star user reveiws and even a 5 star?!?! I didn't expect much, but even so it still managed to disappoint me...quite a yawn-fest. Maybe the fact that I saw it on an empty stomach didn't help. But the shorts showed all of the best bits, and I thought it could have been much better if they focussed more on the comedy.

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Dull Shadows

JenVKH Nobody (?)

Burton doesn't fail to provide a fantastical plot, set or costume design, and Depp and Green deliver stellar performances as expected. However, little else impresses - the story falls short, action and suspense is absent, and the supporting cast mainly Chloe Moretz and Bella Heathcote bring nothing to the table.

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Press Reviews

A.V. Club (USA)

Any proper adaptation of Dark Shadows, even one that acknowledges and celebrates its camp silliness as much as Burton's does, has to immerse itself in soap opera, too, and it's here that the director's lack of conviction becomes apparent. Full review.

Collider

There’s nothing particularly infuriating about the film, because fury would require passion. Dark Shadows wants to be frightful, but it’s just frightfully dull. Full review.

Empire (UK)

A step up from Alice In Wonderland and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, but not tip-top Tim. Full review.

Hollywood Reporter

Dark Shadows sinks its teeth half-way into its potentially meaty material but hesitates to go all the way. Full review.

Hollywood Reporter

Dark Shadows sinks its teeth half-way into its potentially meaty material but hesitates to go all the way. Full review.

Time Out New York

Burton, as usual, is great on atmosphere and comic timing (these are his weirdest moments since Ed Wood), but less so at reining in an overcomplicated plot and dimly lit action scenes. Full review.

Total Film (UK)

One of the strangest mainstream releases of recent times, Dark Shadows' demented gothic melodrama/fish-out-of-water comedy/creature feature feels like you've slipped into a Burton fever-dream. Full review.

Variety (USA)

This bizarre but weirdly bloodless retro-camp exercise is neither funny nor eerie enough to seduce the uninitiated, and will court bemused reactions at best from the series' still-estimable fan following. Full review.