Must see for Dark Shadows fans!

Rating: 8/10 (11 May 2012)

I absolutely have to have this movie on DVD! Greatly daring I went to the first showing today, which was mid-morning, terrified it would be as campy as the trailers. Not to mention I read the review in my local paper that labeled the film a 'comedy'.
Was I ever pleasantly surprised! The new movie is a lovely blend of drama, dark humor, favorite elements from the original series, some unexpected twists, and horror. Yes, there are a couple of 'over the top' scenes but I didn't find them distracting from the over all plot.
Four actors from the original series made cameos - J. Frid, D. Selby, K.L. Scott and L. Parker. Look for them in the happening scene.
My only argument is that in the very beginning - Barnabas is shown as an only child. How could the Collins family have survived? Most important to remember about the movie is the theme: Family is everything. It is carried through out the entire film.
Otherwise, a must see for fans of either the 1960's or 1990's series. Johnny Depp is a fan of the series and the way he plays the character shows that.
The ending was interesting and sort of upbeat. I will not ruin it for those who have not seen the movie yet.
There are many other elements typical for the time period between the hippies in the minivan, the habits of Dr. Hoffman, the lava lamp, and music. While modern audiences who did not live through the early 1970's may find them comedic, they are a clear reminder of where our country once was before cell phones, computers, and the Internet.