‘Dark Shadows’ Movie Is Good, But Doesn’t Live Up To TV Series

When you hear the title "Dark Shadows", what it recalls can place you in a certain generation.

The original Dark Shadows television show was a soap opera program that introduced Barnabas and the whole Collins family as well as Angelique the evil witch. If you grew up in the late eighties or early nineties, you might remember the short-lived television revival, which was never renewed after its first season. That was my first introduction to a vampire drama. That cliff hanger has plagued me to this very day. I never did find out what happened to Victoria Winters, or if Barnabas' curse was ever broken.

Now it seems as though vampires, witches and werewolves dominate the silver screen and have infiltrated television. Just try watching something on the CW network during prime time that doesn't include some element of supernatural magic. So, with all of the vampire craze, I was delighted to see a Dark Shadows Movie and directed by one of my favorite directors to boot. I am a huge Tim Burton fan.

If you have no Dark Shadows history, you may watch the movie and love it. Although I expect quirky and odd takes from Burton, I have to say I was disappointed with certain turns in the movie. I won't spoil it, but I will say that certain points of the story line seemed to adhere more to main stream need for supernaturalism than to keeping true to the Collins Family History.

I guess I still long for season two of the revival show of the early nineties, starring Ben Cross. That was my first vampire crush. Not Edward Cullin, or Stefan and Damon Salvatore, or Eric Northman. It was Barnabas!