On May 11th the latest cinematic strip of Tim Burton’s imagination will premiere in the form of Dark Shadows. Those of my generation are quite familiar with the dark comedic works of Tim Burton, but we might not be fully familiar with the original basis for this next film. Yet it is so noteworthy that we can not pass up the chance to mention it.
The original Dark Shadows was a Soap Opera that spanned 1,225 episodes between 1966 to 1971. It possessed a gothic and supernatural theme including Ghosts, Vampires, Witches, Werewolves, and other supernatural creatures. It also included elements of Time Travel and Dimensional Shifting.
Set in the fictional town of Collinsport Maine the show centered on the character of Victoria Winters, an orphan researching her past, and the Collins Family for whom the town was named. Sagging ratings by the end of the first year led to the introduction of Barnabas Collins, a vampire cursed to undeath by a spurned witch with whom he’d had an affair (this is a soap opera after all). He was intended to be a temporary antagonist on the show for no more than 13 weeks, following a very Dracula-like path of killing people and seeking to turn one of the characters in to his perfect wife in the likeness of a lost love. The character was so wildly popular with fans however that his role was extended and eventually he became a central character with a far more protagonist position. Though his many foibles would prevent him from ever being the true hero of the series, his remarkable presence on screen solidified him as the most memorable and beloved character of the show even decades after its cancellation.
The new movie draws upon many of the original themes of the series, including being centered around the Collins family and their many troubled lives. Barnabas returns as the central character and mostly a protagonist, seeking to resolve the many troubles facing his descendants. Being a Tim Burton directed film it should come as no surprise that Johnny Depp is portraying the role of Barnabas Collins. Depp stated that in his early youth he had dreamed of portraying the character of Barnabas Collins, and he was excited with the opportunity to finally do so on screen.
Dark Shadows the Movie will premiere on May 11th and if you’re a fan of either the original series, Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, or just gothic camp classics in general then we highly recommend seeing it. Feel free to send us a review if you do 🙂
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