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18 out of 19 people found the following comment useful :- Evokes the glory days of Hammer Films..., 24 May 2001 Author: Ron Panarotti (RonPanarotti@aol.com) from Brick, NJ
This surprisingly well-made retread of the popular serial actually improves on its TV roots by taking the best of the many DS plotlines, condensing the action into a fast-paced, thrilling 97 minutes and adding respectable production values and special effects. The fact is that House of Dark Shadows is a great vampire movie in its own right -- one that evokes the heyday of Hammer Films (which by this time was seeing a real decline in quality).The story is nothing new to those familiar with the series: A handyman poking around a mausoleum on the vast estate of a wealthy and powerful Maine family, in hopes of finding hidden treasure, instead unleashes a 200-year-old vampire. The vampire, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid), is actually an ancestor of the present-day family, but passes himself off as a long-lost descendant of the same name. He proceeds to fall in love with a woman who is the spitting image of the one he loved -- and lost -- in 1797. And he doesn't intend to let it happen again...What's neat about all this is that you don't have to be familiar with five years of TV plotlines to follow or enjoy the story. This is sort of the Reader's Digest condensed version of DS, and you can get the gist of what it's all about without having to sit through weeks of the show (which frequently moved at a snail's pace).One problem I had with the movie is that there are so many characters introduced in the first 10 minutes that it may not be clear, to the uninitiated, exactly who everyone is and what their relationships are. This can be confusing (for instance, you could assume that Elizabeth and Roger are husband and wife -- in fact, Roger is Elizabeth's brother)Some changes have been made from the series for the sake of the story. In this version, Maggie is David's governess; in the show it was Victoria Winters. But these changes are minor. The essence of DS is here, aided by all those buckets of blood and gore the TV censors would never have allowed. The direction of DS creator Dan Curtis is what makes all the difference, making this "DS with a kick."The Collins estate (actually the Lyndhurst estate in Tarrytown, N.Y.) looks much more impressive and beautiful than the "estate" on TV, which was still photographs of a different mansion someplace else.The series was shot entirely on studio sets. The movie gives us a real setting in which these characters live, and everything works. The mansions are impressive inside and out, the mausoleum is creepy, and the estate is beautifully photographed. The dark, desolate island and its deserted Revolutionary War-era mansion where the final confrontation takes place add an atmosphere the series could never hope to attain.Of course, all this is pointless if you don't have a strong villain, and Barnabas does not disappoint. In the series, he was more of a sympathetic character, and he gradually became the show's hero rather than a villain. Some of the sympathetic side comes across here, but this being a self-contained movie, the emphasis is necessarily on Barnabas' evil side.Barnabas, the movie version, is actually one of the more violent vampires, even giving Christopher Lee a run for the money. He bites and strangles his victims, he attacks one of his own relatives, he beats his servant to a pulp after the servant betrays his confidence.House of Dark Shadows is one of the best vampire movies ever made, and a must-see for horror buffs.
11 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :- Vampy AND Campy!, 20 July 2007 Author: phillindholm from Rohnert Park, CA
"House of Dark Shadows", the first feature based on the fondly remembered Gothic soap opera is both exciting and schlocky - sometimes concurrently. Director Dan Curtis (on a very low budget) took what on television was an extremely lengthy introduction and history of the Barnabas Collins character and crammed all he could of it into a 96 minute film. Most of the television cast are here to recreate their parts, chief among them Jonathan Frid as everyone's favorite Vampire. When surly caretaker Willie Loomis (John Karlen) foolishly frees him from his coffin where he has been sleeping for almost 200 years, Barnabas heads for the Collins family mansion and introduces himself as a cousin from England. Both the matriarch of the family, Elizabeth Stoddard (Joan Bennett) and her brother Roger Collins (Louis Edmonds) welcome him and immediately install him in the "old house" which, in fact, is Barnabas' original home. Though the plot has a few twists not seen in the series, the story is still pretty familiar. Barnabas soon has his way with Elizabeth's daughter Carolyn (Nancy Barrett)and she becomes one of his first victims. Although such familiar characters as Professor Stokes (Thayer David) Jeff Clark (Roger Davis) young David Collins (David Henesy) and Todd Jennings (Donald Briscoe) appear, their functions are relatively brief. The two chief supporting females upon whom the plot really turns are Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott) the beautiful governess who bears a striking resemblance to Josette Du Pres, Barnabas' first love, and Dr. Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) an old family friend writing a history of the Collins family. For seemingly different reasons, both are attracted to Barnabas, and both get more than they bargained for when they become involved with him. The film is fast-paced, predictably gory, and occasionally unintentionally humorous, with loopholes big enough to drive a hearse through. Fans of the show will have a definite edge over new viewers because little is done to introduce the uninitiated to the characters (most of whom quickly go under the tooth anyway) and background of the story. Still, it's sincerely acted by all, boasts a superior score by Robert Cobert (much of it recycled from the series),and some beautiful photography. "House of Dark Shadows" is one place you'll want to explore.
12 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :- House of the unholy, 24 May 2004 Author: Bynovekka1 from United States
The shining glory of Producer/Director Dan Curtis's career came in 1983 when he transformed Herman Wouk's acclaimed World war 2 novel "The Winds of War" into an epic television miniseries. But it was during the late 60s and 70s that Curtis originally became a known and respected commodity in hollywood. During that time, Curtis was responsible for the creation of several suprisingly effective "B" horror films. Minor classics like "The Night Stalker"...."The Night Strangler"....."Scream of wolf" are must see nostalgia pieces for true fans of the Genre. His 1971 semi-gothic effort "House of Dark shadows" also ranks high on the list of Curtis's early cinematic achievements. The film is based on the unquestioned most popular segment of the old daytime TV series, "Dark Shadows". For those that don't know..."Dark Shadows" was a struggling 60s daytime soap opera concerning the dulling exploits of a boorish super rich New England family....the Collin's. After a season of well worn plots about family infighting and powerstruggles the show was on verge of being canceled. That's when series creator....Curtis....came up with a radical idea. Introduce supernatural elements into the show. Soon the shows focus drifted from standard issue soap opera melodrama into a detailed examination of Collins family's haunted past. Over the next five years, Dan Curtis brought to light virtually every family Skeleton.....often literally. The seemingly eternally cursed clan's estate....Collinwood...was to play host to various unwanted preternatural ghouls who in one way or another were connected to the family. Among the collection of these occult charactors were: Vampires, Werewolves, Witches, Wizards, Demons, Artifically created men and women, Ghosts, Headless entities.....just to name a few.When Dark Shadows faded from the afternoon scene in 1971....its ever loyal fans cried for more. Curtis responded with with pair of post series movies....and some 20 years later....a prime time sequel series. The first of these films efforts being the aforementioned 'House of Darkshadows'. In the recreation process the noted director quite capably revived and enhanced many of numberous supernatural elements that made the old serial popular....while offering up far superior production values.In house of Dark Shadows the audience is privy to the scheme of a wily caretaker who happens upon a map he believes leads to an ancient treasure buried on the grounds of Collinwood. The map brings him to the Collins family crypt where rather than treasure, the caretaker accidentally releases something dark from its eternal bondage. That same night a young woman is attacked at the main gate of the estate. Left comatose from loss of blood caused by mysterious twin puncture wounds on her neck.....the girl can provide no clue to the nature of her attacker. But soon other victims start to pop up...similarly wounded and minus a few pints of plasma. A pair of learned locals conclude a vampire is responsible for the attacks. The authorities and Collin's family....quite naturally scoff at the notion. They prefer to believe an unknown type of animal or a madman is behind the attacks. However, the doubters soon change their tune when a Collins family member on the intruders menu is killed and eventually returns from the grave as one of the living dead. The supernatural nature of the killer revealed....the police are soon scurrying about the area with crosses and stakes....while almost the entire Collins family are armed with cross bows and stringing up enough garlic to corner the market. While terror reigns supreme at Collinwood, the family has no way of knowing the perpetrator of this unspeakable villainy is dwelling unsuspected within their midst. By todays standard "House of Dark Shadows" might seem somewhat hokey with its max factor fangs and cherry syrup blood. But for its time, it was quality achievement and even now it provides something rarely seen.....a well written horror film with some into classic gothic overtones added into the mix.
7 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :- The best vampire flick of the '70's!, 18 May 2001 Author: chad edwards (chad478@webtv.net) from cincinnati, ohio
This is one of the best horror films of the '70's, and certainly the best vampire flick of that decade. Based on the highly successful supernatural soap opera DARK SHADOWS, this feature film version of the ever popular series recounts the resurrection of Barnabas Collins(Jonathan Frid), a 175-year-old vampire who passes himself off as a modern-day descendant of the Collins clan. While staying at the Gothic Collinwood estate, Barnabas becomes entranced by a beautiful governess(Kathryn Leigh Scott) who bears a striking resemblance to his long-lost love, Josette, and determines to make the young woman his new bride. Few films based on Tv shows work, but HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS is an exception to that rule and like the TV series on which it is based, HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS has developed into a cult classic over the years. Like its sequel, 1971's NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS, the film is currently under restoration. There are several sequences from both films missing. Hopefully, the generally unfavorable opinion of NIGHT will change once all of the missing footage has been recovered, and the film will then rank right up there along with its predecessor like it should.
8 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :- Big budget film based on hit TV show, 26 December 2002 Author: nickandrew from PA
Intelligently done, but bloody and violent story based on the hit TV show Dark Shadows from the late 60s. The plot revolves around vampire Barnabas Collins, who finds a cure to become human again so he can wed a beautiful girl. Genuinely creepy atmosphere, beautifully filmed and surprisingly first-rate acting by cast.
7 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :- Lots of teeth, lots of blood, 15 June 1999 Author: Gothick from Boston, Mass.
I had been a hardcore fan of Dark Shadows for two years when this movie was released in 1968. I recall coming into the theatre and hearing somebody say to a friend, "So what did you think of it?" and receiving the reply, "Lots of teeth, lots of blood." Sadly, that pretty much sums up this picture's appeal. There is some atmospheric photography of Lyndhurst, the Gothic mansion in Tarrytown, NY that stands in for the original Collinwood (a mansion in Newport, RI, currently being used as a boys' dormitory--the first time I visited the house I was jarred by the sounds of a Metallica record blaring out of one of the windows).As was the case with the sequel Night of Dark Shadows, the final release print of this movie was substantially cut down from Director Dan Curtis' submission to MGM. Unfortunately all the scenes sliced from the original print basically established the characters and their motivations. The bare bones (or should that be fangs) of the story survives intact. If you know nothing about the mystique or the legend of Dark Shadows, this will be an enjoyable, reasonably stylish horror film in the manner of the late Sixties, with some realism but hardly the splatter-gore factor that hit horror movies after the huge success of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre in the early 70s.The ensemble cast works very well, given that all of these people had been working together for three or four years at this point. Outstanding are Jonathan Frid's enigmatically menacing vampire Barnabas Collins--the pain and vulnerability Frid emotes with his eyes at certain sequences is really quite striking; Grayson Hall's superb portrayal of medico-on-the-verge Dr. Julia Hoffman (Barbara Steele, who reprised the role in a 1990 remake, complained that Grayson was "excruciatingly good" in the part), and excellent character actor Thayer David's surprisingly complex portrayal of Professor T. Eliot Stokes. Nancy Barrett as doomed heiress Carolyn Stoddard is a beautiful, fragile, Gothic presence. Emmy winner John Karlen (who went on to appear in another cult vampire film, Daughters of Darkness, a couple months later in Belgium this year) makes Willie Loomis one of the best roles of his career. Joan Bennett is patrician and unforgettable in what amounts to a cameo appearance as the family matriarch.
5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :- Little known, off beat vampire classic., 21 November 2001 Author: Glenn Andreiev (gandreiev@aol.com) from Huntington, NY
HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS (1970) is the movie-house version of the then popular Gothic Soap Opera. The film's plot is a re-tracing of the TV series. Willie Loomis (John Karlen), while robbing a New England crypt, accidently awakens 200 year old vampire Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid's moment of immortality!) Barnabas comes upon his modern descendants as a "long lost relative from England" leaving out the one little detail about being 200 years old. In the meantime, he is secretly feasting on victims. He enjoys a temporary cure, via a local doctor. What makes this film unique is how this murderous vampire is worthy of sympathy, the tender but extremely haunting encounter the pre-teen Collins boy has with his dead sister, and the rather doomsday style climax. This gem came at a time when decent horror films were a rarity. (Relaxed censorship let about 90% of the horror directors depend more on gore and sex).
5 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :- A good horror film!, 24 January 2005 Author: miken-3 (kataman1@verizon.net) from United States
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
One of the first times a television program was brought to the big screen. The movie takes one of the most popular story lines from the TV program and goes way beyond it. Characters, who never die in the series, do so in this film with a heck of a lot more ketchupy bloody scenes. The movie is complete by itself and it is not necessary to have every watched the TV series to understand and enjoy this film.The actors made a good transition from the small screen to the big screen, and the film was a lot more eerie than the TV series.Some very eerie and tense scenes. Excellent directing and great mood music. The acting also far exceeds what we saw on the TV series!
5 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :- The Gothic soap opera hits the big screen with a bang, 18 September 1999 Author: Casey-52 from DVD Drive-In
I remember seeing this movie when I was about 12 years old on TNT in Europe in beautiful widescreen format. I was absolutely mesmerized! My mom told me how she was a fan of the original series (not die-hard, but a fan) and watched it with me. It was such a great movie, so much happened in the 90 minutes of the film that it boggled my mind. Several plotlines intertwined and characters came and went (which was annoying to me). I didn't see this movie again until last year on video. The widescreen format was gone, but it was great to see it again! I didn't remember seeing the bloody stakings in the TV version (but it wasn't edited) and was pleasantly surprised. I had to check the box again to be sure what the rating was. Sure enough, PG. Today, I would still be careful if my kids watched it! The acting in the film is marvelous and shows how soap opera actors can break from that tired formula. Everyone from Kathryn Leigh Scott to Thayer David shine in their roles, a personal favorite being beautiful blonde Nancy Barrett. This is overall a nostalgiac shocker and worth a look at least once. Hopefully someday someone will find the 25+ minutes of film cut from the original print and release it intact on video!
3 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :- This feature film adaptation of the popular Gothic soap opera recounts the resurrection of vampire Barnabas Collins(convincingly played by Jonathan Frid) who passes himself as a visiting cousin from England, 15 September 2000 Author: verna55 from cincinnati, ohio
The film features a number of the series regulars repeating their original TV roles, and there are several recycled plot elements from the show that come in handy for the movie. But producer/director Dan Curtis(the creator of the original series), knows the drastic difference between a daytime TV soap opera and a feature film, and uses this knowledge to create a striking, entertaining picture. Unlike an episodic TV series, the film doesn't allow the suspense to lag at a snail's pace, but actually builds suspense from the opening scene and never lets up! The performances by the multi-talented cast are truly wonderful, though star Joan Bennett(one of my most favorite characters on the show), doesn't get as much screen time as I would have liked. This is probably due to the fact that the film was cut by some twenty minutes before being released. But even in its truncated form, HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS remains one of the greatest vampire/horror flicks of its time.
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