Worth the watch if you appreciate Tim Burton

Rating: 7/10 (21 October 2012)

Any time Tim Burton and Johnny Depp work together on a movie it's usually a recipe for entertainment. Dark Shadows is their latest collaboration in a long list of titles. Starting with Edward Scissorhands, and including titles such as Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Alice in Wonderland. Dark Shadows does not disappoint. It's a great dark comedy with several unexpected laughs and twists.
In Dark Shadows, Johnny Depp's character, Barnabas Collins, is a man from the mid-1700s. Barnabas comes from a wealthy fishing family that built their town named Collinsport. He is unfortunate enough to scorn a woman named Angelique; who just so happens to be a witch. Angelique kills his parents and true love after he refuses her. She then curses Barnabas; turning him into a vampire. Rallying the townspeople against him she has him chained in a coffin and buried alive. In 1972, nearly two hundred years later, he is accidentally unearthed by some unlucky construction workers. A series of mishaps and conflicts ensue as Barnabas tries to regain the Collins' family business, and restore their home. The entire family is still being plagued by Angelique after all these years; leaving the audience speculating as to what could happen next. Anything can happen when you take a trip in the twisted mind of Tim Burton.
The characters were well casted. Johnny Depp, as always, is very believable as Barnabas Collins. His quirky personality shows a wide range of emotions that truly brought Barnabas to life or death. There is a wide range of experienced supporting actors; including Michelle Pfeiffer. Her character, Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, is the current head of the Collins' family. She is a strong woman with a dry; sarcastic wit. The cast was further enriched by Helena Bonham Carter as the hilarious drunken psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman, and Jackie Earle Haley, the Collins' confused, always intoxicated servant, Willie Loomis. As far as villains go, Eva Green was an excellent choice to portray Angelique Bouchard. Her facial expressions and mannerisms alone were worthy of any evil witch. The chemistry between the cast is undeniable, and adds to the charm and believability of the characters.
However, Dark Shadows is a comedy, and although there were several laugh out loud moments; it still left a little lacking in that department. The plot came across a little rushed in parts. More time was spent than necessary explaining things that were not key to the outcome, and not enough clarification on things that were. The ending was definitely more abrupt than expected. Mr. Burton could have gone into more detail with the final scene.
Overall, if you enjoyed Tim Burton's work on his previous films, Dark Shadows is a worthy addition to his collection, and deserves at least one viewing. It's entertaining and comedic with a great cast. The concept is different and not overplayed; as many films seem to be these days. Dark Shadows would make a great choice to watch when you are having a bad day. It's definitely better to watch with a friend, so you have someone to share in the madness and laughter.