Dark Shadows (1966)
Dark Shadows is an American gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966, to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements. It was unprecedented in daytime television when ghosts were introduced about six months after it began. The series became hugely popular when vampire Barnabas Collins appeared a year into its run. Dark Shadows also featured werewolves, zombies, man-made monsters, witches, warlocks, time travel, and a parallel universe. A small company of actors each played many roles; indeed, as actors came and went, some characters were played by more than one actor. Major writers besides Art Wallace included Malcolm Marmorstein, Sam Hall, Gordon Russell, and Violet Welles.
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What critics compared Dark Shadows to
Based on the late '60s/early '70s TV series Depp loved as a kid, "Dark Shadows" stirs elements that by now require major inspiration to stand out from every other eccentric character existing at an incongruous time ("Encino Man," "Austin Powers" to name just a few) and countless recent vampires laboring to protect their families and control the need for blood.
In a parallel universe, the awesome Tim Burton managed to create a Dark Shadows that combined the weird family fun of Beetlejuice with the purposely-bad acting and wobbly sets of Ed Wood, and turned this soap into his gothiest weird-fest yet.
Following Stan’s recruitment, the next 45 minutes are a peek into his childhood drawn literally and figuratively with immaculate detail: Jiffy Pop, Jell-O bowls, dad stealing plywood from a nearby construction site for a ping-pong table, rigging arcade machines, a neighborhood toddler sleeping in the middle of the street, fighting over the TV, Dark Shadows , and that eerie Zager & Evans hit song “In the Year 2525.”
Stan's mind jumps all over the place, and we realize that what we're really seeing is a jumble of memories and perceptions from a grown man who is still a child inside, and whose personal experiences have become fused to the popular culture he consumed (everything from TV's "Dark Shadows" to Dick Cavett interviewing Janis Joplin to Robert Altman's space adventure "Countdown" to the ascendant, Joe Namath-led New York Jets swirl through his account).
Il cite 2001 : L'Odyssée de l'Espace , Les Beatles, Dark Shadows , bref toute une époque, ses mœurs et sa culture.
Un mondo che il protagonista scruta attraverso la televisione, la stessa che gli rimanda le immagini di un numero incredibile di film (La cosa da un altro mondo, Fluido mortale, Radiazioni BX: Distruzione uomo, tra i tanti) e serie tv (Dark Shadows e Bonanza, su tutte).
In this case, the trite theme has precedent: The first "Dark Shadows" spinoff feature film, 1970's "House of Dark Shadows," was advertised as "A Story of Blood Relations."
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"Get Out" masterfully mixes scares and mounting suspense with well-timed comic punches, accentuated by the plucked strings and unnerving orchestrations in Michael Abels' sinister score, one that recalls both Robert Colbert's iconic "Dark Shadows" soundtrack and music from the original "Twilight Zone" TV composers.
Crampton’s delivery is somewhat reminiscent of the original Dark Shadows series (which I used to watch in syndication with my mom, who grew up with the show), and her enchanting presence adds so much to Beyond the Gates.
Whether or not the interest in another preteen melodrama is a good thing but it’s another cash machine in the works takes all the beats from fare like “Buffy,” to Anne Rice and yes even “Dark Shadows” to guide us along the stepping stones of a film that’s barely even romantic.
Teens of a certain mindset (not to mention Dark Shadows fans) will eat it up, as will those who've never borne witness to Christopher Lee's bodice-busting abilities.
This is a Harlequin romance by way of Dark Shadows.
As it is, in terms of audience appeal and box office impact, the most appropriate analog for Dark Shadows might be Speed Racer .
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Based on the late '60s/early '70s TV series Depp loved as a kid, "Dark Shadows" stirs elements that by now require major inspiration to stand out from every other eccentric character existing at an incongruous time ("Encino Man," "Austin Powers" to name just a few) and countless recent vampires laboring to protect their families and control the need for blood.
For every Wayne’s World are seemingly dozens of Dark Shadows or The Flintstones.