Dark Shadows - A Review

As a dedicated Tim Burton and Jonny Depp fan Dark Shadows appealed to me instantly and a high volume of excitement took over me. The trailer encourages a light-hearted comedy for all the family and a list of renowned actors. However, after witnessing this new Burton film only one word springs to mind: disappointment.

The film boasts a cast that harmonise together beautifully, each member having experience in weird and wonderful films previous to this one. Jonny Depp and Helen Bonham Carter, having worked together successfully before, continue their strong relationship each presenting moments of great comedy. Chloe Grace Moretz reveals a new side to her personality as she takes on a typical teenage role with a seventies stoner vibe. Michelle Pfeiffer grants us normality within these crazy characters devised in Burton’s terrific mind. The rest of the cast do everything but hinder these notorious names.

Dark Shadows takes us on a journey very similar to that of Stephanie Meyer’s twilight. Except, of course, Burton does this with his habitual sense of an acid trip twist. We see flashes of love, jealousy and a lot of vampire attacks that are done with cheesy make-up and fangs hanging out of Depp’s mouth. The storyline is common and unfortunately the big screen has seen too many vampire films/programmes recently for this one to become a big hit. Although it was directed well and presents original ideas within this familiar tale, I believe it will just be added to the never ending list of vampire films.

The morels of the story are obvious and quite insightful as a vampire returns to his once-grand ancestral home learning very quickly that his task is to protect his unhinged descendents. He has to quickly learn the modern day of living after being locked away for two centuries by a witch who sentenced him to an eternity of misery and heartbreak. Funny moments are found through his confusion and obsession with being appropriate. In fact the humour was what kept the film endurable, along with being intrigued as to what Burton will do next. He did well to honour the TV show but Burton created an indecisive film that becomes a cross between a gothic romance and a cheesy comedy.

If you are a fan of corny then I would highly recommend Dark Shadows to you. But for everyone else it is a wonderful idea in theory, however in reality, not quite so great. Burton seems to want his human characters to reflect those of his animations in one of his biggest hits ‘Nightmare before Christmas’ and again, whilst this is great in theory, he seems to be having trouble to demonstrate these imaginings in front of the camera.

I will keep positive for Burton’s next motion picture but for now Dark Shadows perhaps should have stayed in the shadows!