A Fine Cast in Dark Shadows

The best part of Tim Burton’s “Dark Shadows” is the performance of Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, a member of the Collins family of Maine who is awakened after lying in a coffin, imprisoned, for 196 years until a “yellow dragon” awakens him from his slumber. I have never seen an episode of the 1968-72 television series upon which this film is based. I consider that a good thing so I could go into the film fresh without any expectations. I did know the film was going to be a comedy. The trailers for the film allow for no mistake to be made in that regard.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed “Dark Shadows.” Now, I do not think it is a great film, however, it is a good, surprisingly subdued film. I am not a huge Tim Burton fan, so I was a bit hesitant to see this film. I am glad I did, as I enjoyed a fantastic performance by Johnny Depp. He is not as overbearingly over-the-top as he was in “Pirates of the Caribbean.” The best thing about Depp’s performance in “Dark Shadows” is that his portrayal of Collins is not one of bumbling stupidity or the typical “fish out of water” scenario. Collins, who emerges in 1972 from his imprisonment, though thrown into a completely different time period from what he knew, is able to quickly adjust to his new surroundings and lead the Collins family towards regaining their once proud name. In fact, once adjusting to his new life, Barnabas Collins’ focus is on reclaiming the town of Collinwood as his family’s own. He does this not for personal gain, but for family pride. This is a very wise choice by the screenwriter. There are plenty of opportunities for goofiness, stupidity, and other unnecessary tomfoolery, however, thankfully, the film, only briefly on one occasion strays into such territory. You will know that occasion when you hear the Barry White song. That is a goofy, but thankfully, brief scene. The rest of the cast is fine supporting Depp. Michelle Pfeiffer, is always pleasant to see…and is still pleasant to look at, I do not mind saying. Pfeiffer plays Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, a how ever many great-greats, relative of Barnabas Collins. She lives in the run-down, but still ornate, Collins mansion with her husband, Roger (Jonny Lee Miller), their daughter, Carolyn (Chloe Grace Moritz), and their son David (Gulliver McGrath). Also living in the house are caretaker of the mansion, Willie Loomis (the great Jackie Earle Haley), and Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter). Dr. Hoffman has been employed to treat David, who is thought to have some psychological dysfunction. “Dark Shadows” is a pleasant film, mostly thanks to Johnny Depp’s excellent performance. Again, there are few bumps in the road as far as the screenplay goes. The played for laughs romantic scene between Barnabas and business competitor, Angelique Brouchard (Eva Green), is a bit cringe-inducing as the good, but overused “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” by Barry White plays on the soundtrack. We find out at the beginning of the film that Angelique is the woman who cursed Barnabas Collins to a life of imprisonment, the imprisonment from which he escapes thanks to the earlier referenced “yellow dragon.” The best part of the film is the frequent usage by Barnabas Collins of the old English used in the 1700’s. It is a typical trope used in films involving a character who has emerged in modern times. In “Dark Shadows,” this type of dialogue is fresh and Depp’s delivery of this dialogue is perfect. This dialogue of which I speak is a character in the film. As music can be sometimes a character in a film, the old English dialogue spoken by Barnabas in “Dark Shadows” is also a character, and a good one. Every time Depp’s Barnabas Collins appeared on screen I was happy. This is a very complimentary thing to say about an actor’s performance. The film took a tad too long to wrap up, as is a trend in big-budget Hollywood films these days. The finale of the film is heavily CGI-laden and my mind numbs at such heavy usage of CGI. Despite that, however, I recommend Tim Burton’s “Dark Shadows,” for Johnny Depp’s wonderful performance and his dialogue delivery. Anyone who fancies themselves a lover of language will likely enjoy the film for his line reading. Go forth into the dark shadows and see it or the yellow dragon will swallow you whole.