Don't hate the performers; hate the script

Rating: 6/10 (23 April 2013)

Tim Burton and Johnny Depp used to be the most reliable of partners, with their work dating back to 1990 with the release of the beloved Edward Scissorhand. In present time, the public has grown weary of the two men, as they both seem to be putting on a crazy costume party with every film they make. Regardless, I'll always view Burton and Depp as a likable pair, and even with the lukewarm Dark Shadows, I hold optimism that in the near future I'll hold one of their upcoming films as a great picture.
Dark Shadows, as stated, is not that film. It's a film with an incredible, Gothic look and tone, but a meandering story that tries to dab into way too many genres. Perhaps because I never watched the soap opera, which is now adored by cultists everywhere, I am entitled to have a more favorable opinion than the average fan. However, even a moviegoer ignorant to the original show may have a hard time enjoying this picture to the fullest extent. It's not the easy time I've had sitting still for one-hundred and thirteen minutes.
The plot: Johnny Depp is Barnabas Collins, a 200-year-old vampire who has been kept in a coffin for many years by his evil ex-lover Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). When he is unearthed, he ventures back home to the gigantic Collinsport Mansion, which resides in 1972 Maine. After reconnecting with the family, including the shy matriarch, Elizabeth (Michelle Pfeiffer) and the new, very attractive helper Victoria (Bella Heathcore), he must find a way to stop Bouchard, who has now completely taken over the Maine town.
Depp fully exercises his right to be quirky and outright strange and I wouldn't expect anything less. He makes Barnabas into a likable, but rather forgettable soul, and the other members of the Collins family remain pretty faceless for the entire time, appearing as members of the Addams family only far less interesting. As a non-fan of the series like myself, I'm at least wise enough to know that there has to be something more to this series and these characters than what is presented here. If Barnabas remained the entire focus of the show, like here in the film, and the other characters were sidelined to dry supporting roles, how did it go on to merit a level of cult support and fanatical charm amongst the public? The same went for the dreadful film adaptation of The Dukes of Hazzard, which focused almost entirely on stupidity and car chases. Even those unaware of the true ideas behind the episodes know well enough that the show didn't last several seasons and earn love and fame because of simply that; there had to be more that was simply neglected for the film adaptation.
The more prominent problem with Dark Shadows, however, is its lack of self-awareness and thematic certainty. One moment, we see Barnabas fiercely biting the neck of a woman, when the next, we see him making some sort of corny joke that throws the surrounding mood out the window. Is this a comedy? A black one? A costume drama, a quirky thriller? A horror film? An argument can be made for all of those, which is great, but Dark Shadows unevenly cycles through all of those genres that it becomes messy and boring.
Saying a Tim Burton movie has great cinematography and beautiful visuals is like saying Ken Burns' documentaries are full of interesting points and always provide knowledge to viewers. The compliment is a commonplace, and in many ways, I appreciate the look of this film over that of Burton's Alice in Wonderland. The Gothic-style replicated here, heavily emphasizing the black, purple, and white color scheme, is richly detailed and eye-poppingly crafted, and the dark cinematography is terrifically presented through an eerily ominous lens. Even its score accentuates a more haunting, unnerving atmosphere than I originally thought.
Dark Shadows is a fine picture in the respect that it's made by someone who knows how to decorate a set, utilize special effects effectively, and erect quirkiness on demand. It's just a shame that Burton has such a hard time getting a story across that is interesting and focused. Perhaps it's time for him and Depp to take a break from each other, or seek out a project that will allow them to take a more specific direction, while still breeding their indelible eccentricities into the project. It's a shame to see a few missteps leave two once highly-regarded talents doubted and bashed.
Starring: Johnny Depp, Eva Green, Michelle Pfieffer, Bella Heathcore, and Jackie Earle Haley. Directed by: Tim Burton.