Meets expectations from Tim Burton

Rating: 6/10 (18 May 2012)

"Dark Shadows" is based on the 1966-1971 television series that director Tim Burton was a fan of. Here it becomes a mildly amusing mix of horror, fantasy and comedy. Barnabus Collins becomes a vampire under the spell of a witch and is buried for 200 years. He's accidentally set free and returns to his ancestral family home. Following the dramatic prologue, the film becomes a comedy set in 1972, one year after the television series ended. The Collins family is dysfunctional, which makes for some good comic moments. I've never seen any episodes of the original television series, however, I feel the film would have worked more effectively with a darker, more serious tone. Burton is likely going for popular appeal here. Introducing an old television series to a new generation. Worth a look for Tim Burton fans.