Review: Dark Shadows

Johnny Depp as the vampire Barnabas Collins

Bella Heathcote as Vickie Winters the new governess with a dark past.

Helena Bonham Carter as the brash and often drunk, Dr.Howard.

The Ghost of Barnabas' fiancée, Josette

Probably best described as a kitsch-noir, Tim Burton's latest film Dark Shadows is based loosely upon the the 1966-71 soap opera of the same title.  Enjoyment of the film is heightened if one keeps in mind that it is meant to be unashamedly kitschy and tongue-in-cheek. Serious devotees of vampire cinema, television and literature may find that it is not serious enough for them (which would be their lose anyway).  Johnny Depp is brilliant as the recently unearthed 200-year-old vampire, Barnabas Collins. Whilst this character is often meant to be a humouros buffoon bumbling through the modern world he has just been thrust into, Depp also manages to bring a great deal of pathos to the role. There really is no other actor that would have been so suited to this screen adaptation of the series. In less skilled hands Barnabas would probably have just been irritating and silly. Eva Green is terrifying as vengeful witch Angelique Bouchard. Although she is supposed to be the villain I couldn't help but feel sorry for her and wonder if Barnabas's past and present treatment of her wasn't more than a little to blame. Helena Bonham Carter plays Dr. Howard, a quack psychiatrist and drunkard. Again as unsavoury as her character was I did feel sorry for her and wonder if she wasn't after all just another one of Barnabas' victims.

Bella Heathcote is excellent as governess Vickie Winters and as Josette. Her unusual Blythe doll good looks made her especially suited to play this character. She doesn't overdo her role as the seemingly innocent girl with a dark past. Her story unfolds gradually and is classic Burton fare.

Chloe Moretz is great as the stroppy teenage daughter (also with a dark secret). My only criticism would be that when she reveals her secret towards the end of the film, CGI was used to convey this and it did not look at all convincing nor did it look bad in a neat kitschy way. My only other criticism of the film would be that I found Depp's fight scenes with Eva Green to be disturbing. I think it was meant to be slapstick but there are times when she is just receiving blow after blow and not hitting back. People around me were laughing but I found these scenes to be too reminiscent of domestic violence to be funny. Their love scene earlier in the film, however, is hilarious.


Overall I would say that Dark Shadows is a return to form and I sincerely hope that Tim Burton will consider doing a sequel.



For Toronto showtimes of Dark Shadows, click  here.