Hilariously Entertaining

Rating: 2/10 (2 August 2012)

If anyone can take the original 1960s-1970s Gothic soap opera and turn it into a comical parody, it can only be Tim Burton. This film and its original series tells the story of aristocratic playboy Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp in the film, the late Jonathan Frid in the original series) who was cursed to be a vampire by his jealous former lover, Angelique who is a witch (Eva Green in the film, Lara Parker in the series). After being buried alive for 200 years, he is awakened by construction workers and he heads back to his former home Collinwood. Upon arrival he meets his dysfunctional descendants; Elizabeth Collins-Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer), her daughter Carolyn (Chloe Grace Moretz), Elizabeth's brother Roger (Jonny Lee Miller) and his son David. Also there are David and Carolyn's governess, Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcoate)and Elizabeth's psychiatrist Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham-Carter). This film is a mixture of dark humor and an interesting characters. Depp as Barnabas is a mix of his odd humor, comedy and cheesy vampire appearance, but he generates plenty of laughs throughout. Michelle is a welcome matronly figure with a dark secret that she has to hide from everyone in Collinsport. Heathcoate as the troubled governess is a welcome among the mix of odd characters, but she is not what she appears to be on the exterior. If you appreciate a good laugh then see 'Dark Shadows.'