Customer Reviews

Dark Shadows: Scariest Moments [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This video presents a collection of the most graphic, terrifying, horrific sequences from this most unusual and ambitious soap opera. If you know anyone who thinks, based on a random viewing of DARK SHADOWS episodes, that the show was all talk and no action, this video will prove them wrong. Unfortunately, I can't give this a full five stars because I feel that it also subtly misrepresents the show. The soap opera format allowed DARK SHADOWS to develop its characters and situations much more fully than in much television and movie horror, but you can't really see that here. This video proves that DARK SHADOWS offered plenty of shudders and shrieks, but might give the impression that the show offered nothing else.

I think that this tape is excellent for a Dark Shadows collector. It's a compilation or the "scariest moments" of several memorable shows. It's fun to watch this tape and look at the old horror and makeup effects that scared many people.

The show, which was created by Dan Curtis was very atmospheric and the story lines were always interesting and imaginitive. The acting was genuinely excellent (in those days the actor's mistakes couldn't be edited out) and the indoor sets were terrific; the outdoor ones looked more artificial somehow. This little video - which should have been longer - gives us glimpes of the show so many of us baby boomers relished thirty years ago. While it was done adequately, I felt there was much left out. Lara Parker was just magnificent as the beautiful witch Angelique (from Martinique!) and Jonathan Frid was legendary as poor guilt-ridden Barnabas. Frid's stage-trained voice (which was music to the ears) was a definite asset toward making his playing of the vampire most effective. The unique Grayson Hall was wonderful as the rather eclectic Julia Hoffman. John Karlen (CAGNEY AND LACEY) was an inspired choice for the role of Willie Loomis (Barnabas: "You BETRAYED me!!") Joan Bennett gave class to the character of Elizabeth Stoddard Collins as did Louis Edmunds to his role as Roger. So many little things in this series linger in the memory: the ghost of little Sarah, whose big brother was Barnabas....Julia as Magda the Gypsy who reads the Tarot.... Angelique as Cassandra (in a black wig).... Sam paints over Angelique's portrait and ages her (simultaneously) as he paints her as a crone.... Josette's music box which is heard in the OLD HOUSE where Barnabas lives.... David leaves the creepy Mauseleum and runs right into Barnabas! Angelique's brother Nicholas Blair, who is more powerful than she.... The voice-over before each episode usually done by Victoria Winters. And don't forget the handsome but creepy Quentin played by David Selby!