Dark Shadows movie review

Dark Shadows released in 2012 is a film adaption of the horror/soap opera from the 70s of the same name. The film is directed by Tim Burton, starring Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfieffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, and Chloe Grace Moretz (who also played Carrie in the remake of Carrie), and had a beautiful music score by ex-Oingo Boingo singer Danny Elfman. Dark Shadows is a horror themed comedy, that never takes itself seriously, and is campy and fun. Dark Shadows is about Barnaby Collins who comes to Maine from England and starts a successful fishing business and his family has a town named after them (Collinsport), and they become very rich. Barnaby inherits this wealth from his father, and becomes the lord of the manor. His love is murdered by an evil with who curses him to becoming a vampire as a punishment for him not loving her. Fast forward to the 1970s and he coffin is unearthed by workers building a McDonald's, and he returns to find his family manor ill kept and his family with no money. There is a lot of family drama that adds very important story plot lines, and does an amazing job at character development. As Barnaby is returning, the family also hires a nanny to take care of their troubled young son. This nanny and Barnabas develop a deep love and they court, we find out later, why there is a destined reason that these two should find each other and fall in love. The story progresses as the witch that turned him into a vampire and entombed him in a coffin in the ground find word that he has returned and re-opened the family business, and some great drama and more story plot lines unfold. Barnaby also hosts a ball (or happening) to try to get the towns people to love the family again, and he gets Alice Cooper to play the party (and refers to him as the "Cooper woman" and says of him "that is the ugliest woman I have ever seen"). The witch however gets the city to turn on the Collins family which leads to the fun climax, where we learn something fun about the angsty teenage daughter of the family. Sorry this is such a brief and rushed synopsis but, if I went into every story arch and plot line, this would go on forever. This movie got mixed reviews by the critics, and didn't do as well as it should have in the box office because it was released the same time as the hugely popular comic book movie The Avengers. But fuck the critics, here are my thoughts on the movie. I loved it, I absolutely loved this movie. Dark Shadows has the right amount of comedy and satire, which makes it absolutely fun to watch. The sets and scenery that Burton captures in this movie are dark and beautiful, and fit the mood of the story so absolutely perfect. Danny Elfman's music, as well as the classic rock soundtrack is also absolutely perfect, and helps to set the time period of the movie. All of the characters are perfectly cast, and the actors all turn in amazing performances. This movie like most Tim Burton movies is absolutely beautiful to look at, and is a work of dark beautiful art. One thing I do need to point out, because it is always joked that Tim Burton doesn't seem to think that there are more actors in the world than Johnny Depp and his wife, but the truth is on this movie, the film was Depp's idea, as he was a huge fan of the television show, and it was at Depp's insistence that Tim Burton be brought on as the director. I found that piece of information really interesting. Would i recommend this movie? Yes absolutely, if you are looking for a fun horror themed comedy, then look no further, this one amazing and so much fun. Perfect amount of drama, comedy, and horror. So invite over some friends, have some drinks and enjoy this great movie.