House of Dark Shadows [VHS]
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VHS Movie Reviews of House of Dark Shadows [VHS]
Movie Review: HDS: End of Film Stinger
Summary: 2 Stars
Watch until the ending credits complete and you'll see Barnabas' body fade away and a bat fly away. Apparently Dan Curtis was leaving a sequel possibility open.As a vampire movie, HDS was acceptable; except for the occasional lapses such Roger-as-vampire mirror reflection, and the fact that the cross on the headboard of the recovering Maggie's bed seemed ineffective against the aged Barnabas.
But as a Dark Shadows fan when I first saw this movie, I left feeling more depressed than when I went in.
Yikes!! Dead OR alive Barnabas is truly a monster in this setting. Viewing the DS re-runs on Sci-Fi Channel reinforce the view that yes, despite the so-called "sympathetic" edge to Barnabas, he certainly deserved a hardy stake through the heart! And that's before he single-handedly murdered almost the entire cast.
Hm! Unprecedented attacks and murders at the Collins estate right as foreign-born Barnabas arrives in town! Nope! Can't connect the dots of this one! What wizard was in charge of this investigation and why didn't they drag Barnabas in for questioning say, first thing in the morning?
Meanwhile, poor Willy Loomis got batted around by everybody! Good thing John Karlen is such an excellent actor 'cause he really took a lot of abuse on DS and in HDS.
Movie Review: The Best Vampire Film Produced To Date
Summary: 5 Stars
House of Dark Shadows is a "MUST HAVE" for any serious vampire film buff. The writing, production, directing as well as the acting are tops. The films plot is based on the 1966-1971 TV series Dark Shadows. It features a 18th century vampire, Barnabas Collins, who is released after 180 years in his crypt,by a greed driven, drunk handyman, Willie Loomis. After making Willie his unwilling blood-slave, Barnabas introduces himself to the inhabitants of the Collins family ancestral home, aptly named Collinwood, as a long lost cousin from England. All of the
current residents of Collinwood embrace him with open arms and curiously, very few questions. In a short while, Barnabas finds what he considers to be his true love of the 18th century who is reincarnated in the personage of Maggie Evans, a governess at Collinwood. Many twists of love, jealously, murder and intrigue await the current residents of the ancestral estate of Collinwood all centering around "Cousin Barnabas".
This film is again a must see for any true vampire film lover. Dan Curtis did a fine job of producing and directing this MUST HAVE vampire flick.
Movie Review: Are they coming out in DVD
Summary: 4 Stars
I was wondering if they are coming out in DVD format.I remember seeing these movie as a small kid and they scared the you know what out of me. Hope they will come out in DVD.Movie Review: One of the best vampire films of all time
Summary: 5 Stars
Largely because it was based on a cult daytime seriel, House of Dark Shadows has always been underrated and often unfairly dismissed as just one last attempt to exploit the show's then-waning popularity. As well, House of Dark Shadows came out at a time when the vampire film was having a minor revival and as such, it is often simply lumped together with the likes of Count Yorga or Blacula and forgotten. This is unfortunate because, when watched with an unbiased, open mind, House of Dark Shadows is revealed to be one of the best horror films of the '70s, an original work that -- if indeed it was created mostly to cash in on a tv show in decline -- manages to both improve on the show and to stand along as its own seperate, highly satisfying terms.It is true that the film's plot is basically a retelling of the first few years of the tv show. Petty criminal Willie Loomis accidentally releases 200 year-old vampire Barnabas Collins who proceeds to reacquaint himself with the modern day Collins family, all the while pining for his lost love Josette and feeding on random victims during the night. A local doctor, Julia Hoffman, discovers that Barnabas is a vampire, and persuades him to let her try to cure him. When he discovers what he believes to be Josette's modern day incarnation in the form of Maggie Evans, a jealous Hoffman spikes his cure which leads to a lot of a mayhem, a lot of blood, and most of the cast (all playing versions of their beloved TV characters) dead.
That's where the movie breaks off from the TV show and sets up its own identity. Whereas on the television show, Barnabas was a tortured hero out of Wuthering Heights, in the film he is pure evil, an indiscriminate killer who -- by the bloody end -- has managed to wipe out almost all the remaining members of his family. For fans of the TV show, it provides quite a shock to see such familiar characters struck down. However, all of the actors give sympathetic, likeable performances. Nobody can be dismissed as just doing "television" work and even if you have no background with the show, its hard not to feel pained as they all meet their end. In the end, this helps to create one of the most truly dark horror films I have ever seen.
As said before, the acting is far better than the show's reputation might lead some to guess. By most reports, the actors were getting tired of the show by the time the film was shot and as a result, they seem to get an extra jolt of energy from the chance to kill each other off. Special mention should be made of John Karlen, whose jittery Loomis is one of the film's highlights and veteran character actor Thayer David is a strong Van Helsing-type as Prof. Stokes. As Barnabas, Jonathan Frid -- whose disdain for the TV show is well documented -- is a terrifyingly evil presence. For fans of the show, one of the film's joys is a chance to see actors who never got to do much on the television show actually sink their teeth (or fangs) into the film's juicier roles and pull them off far better than anyone could have guessed. Roger Davis -- who always seemed to be getting killed on the show -- is a strong, sympathetic hero while Elizabeth Barrett makes for a sexy vampire. (Her final battle with the film's vampire hunters is one of the film's most suspenseful -- and bloody -- moments.)
The film is well directed by Dan Curtis who makes a point of not using any of the familiar locations from the TV series but instead totally reimagines the world of Dark Shadows. Working with a low budget, he still pulls off several atmospheric scenes and, most importantly, never allows the story to drag or the action to cease. The film is far more graphic than anything ever seen on the television show and the film's ending is almost disturbingly intense. This is a film that will surprise, frighten, and delight fans and non-fans of the show alike.
Movie Review: Don't miss this one!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is sooooo freaky it'll scare the 'Negress' out of you.Wonderfully casted with a tight intelligent script. Holds up surprisingly well after all these years. Well worth a view. Keep an eye out for Dick Emery who had a fleeting cameo role.