It's OK ...

Rating: 6/10 (31 December 2012)

The film itself was alright, but there was something missing from it. The visuals and directing were great; the plot was interesting, but the one thing that failed to deliver was, unfortunately, something that would have been the difference between this film being OK and going up to good.
The script was pretty bad.
There is no other way of putting it. While there were some good lines for the main characters, not enough time and attention is given to the lesser characters, for example the moment when the moody Carolyn Stoddard is randomly revealed to be a werewolf. If you want to do that, fine, but then at least drop even the most subtle hints so that the revelation is less, "Um ... WHAT?!" and more, "I KNEW it!" A deleted scene can be found on YouTube, however, a conversation between Carolyn and Victoria which, although short, heavily implies Carolyn's nature. A grave mistake was made in not including that in the film. Because of this brief conversation being cut out, I got the impression that the whole werewolf thing was just thrown in for the audience to oooh and aaah.
On the subject of characters, the casting is superb. Johnny Depp is the culture-shocked, cursed vampire, who at the end of the day is the only one producing the few laughs. Michelle Pfeiffer, in the role of Elizabeth, is both stern but strong. Helena Bonham Carter is the wonderfully quirky Julia Hoffman. Eva Green clearly relishes playing the villain, Angelique. Chloë Grace Moretz, who we all know is an amazing actress, does her best as the angsty werewolf Carolyn but sadly her limited lines mean that she is not challenged and we don't see the full extent of her acting ability.
The weakness of the film wasn't down to the direction, the visuals or the cast, but to the script, which was decidedly flat about 90% of the time. Maybe if Tim Burton had a writer who could actually write, the film would have been better.
All in all, this film was by no means bad, but it isn't one that many will squeal about in excitement. The cast did their best with the lines they were given. A shame, then, that "Dark Shadows" will be among those average films that are quickly forgotten.