Customer Reviews

Night Of Dark Shadows

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

'Night of Dark Shadows' is the second of the two Dark Shadows motion pictures. At the time of it's release, this one didn't do quite as well as the first, but over the years, it has developed a strong cult following, and looks very good on repeated viewings.

What always impressed me about 'Night of Dark Shadows' was it's subtlety. 'House of Dark Shadows' was fast, loud and very "in your face." 'Night of Dark Shadows' is quiet in comparison -- the music is lush and softer, and the pace is quite relaxed at times. However, what emerges is an underlying sense of dread which intensifies throughout the course of the film (similar to Dan Curtis' 'Burnt Offerings' from 1976). This makes the shocks and scares even more jarring, and by the end of the film, the audience is left feeling bewitched, bothered and bewildered!

It's also important to mention David Selby, who turns in an excellent performance as Quentin Collins. His moodswings and erratic behavior (sensitive one minute and vicious the next), leave us as confused as Kate Jackson's character is.

Hopefully, both 'Night of Dark Shadows' and 'House of Dark Shadows' will be released on DVD soon, with the additional footage that was removed from the films before their respective theatrical releases. As for now, both films are highly recommended to anyone who enjoyed the series.

I'm actually quite suprised to see all the criticisms of this movie. I feel obligated to briefly respond in its defense. I've been going through a phase (for reasons unknown) where my wife and I are almost exclusively renting horror videos. We saw this movie last night and I found it very scary and filled with a particular atmospheric that seems to only come from movies from the 60's and early 70's. There's something dated about the style, but it is also classic.

In this genre my favorites would be: "The Haunting" (the original); "The Legend of Hell House"; "Burnt Offerings" (starring Karen Black); "Phantasm" (albeit that's from 1978). I supppose the common denominator is that they are all of the haunted house motif. I mention these movies because I thought the "Night of the Dark Shadows" fit in with them quite well. I do agree that the editing was a little rough, but I didn't find it to detract in any major way. The atmosphere, however, was a very seductive and bizarre mix of gothic/mod sexuality and occult mysticism. There wasn't a tremendous amount of explicit violence, but the overall vibe was heavy enough that I didn't want my two year-old daughter in the room while it was playing. The music was effectively corresponding to the developments in the movie--I'd buy the avant-garde soundtrack in a heartbeat. And, I agree that actress Lara Parker was enchanting. I'd like to find that painting of her which so captivated Kate Jackson's husband! The rest of the cast was also excellent; I even overcame my prejudice against Kate Jackson for her later Charlie's Angels contribution as she was sweetness personified in this and very compelling.

Overall, I definitely got the "buzz" I was seeking from this and any "horror" movie. It's true supernatural macabre without any innocent explanations. The feeling of the movie has stayed with me since I watched it 20 hours ago. I will follow the recommendations of others and seek out the "House of the Dark Shadows."

In this, the second of two Dark Shadows movies spawned from the cult classic immortal TV series, storylines and character traits from the show are forgotten and a completely original story unravels. Whereas the original, House of Dark Shadows, capitalized on the popularity of the character of Barnabas Collins, this movie showcases the characters of Quentin Collins and Angelique. Unlike the original, this movie is NOT a vampire story, but rather a ghost story of mystery and intrigue. The result is an eery haunting tale of betrayal, murder, reincarnation, and ghostly possession.

Note to all fans of Barnabas or vampires in general, Jonathan Frid is NO WHERE to be seen here, as he declined to appear in any more Dark Shadows movies due to his being typecast. However, David Selby is back from the show as Quentin and gives a great performance. The beautiful ladies Kate Jackson (Tracy Collins) and Lara Parker (Angelique) are also great here. John Karlen and Nancy Barrett, fan favorites from the show, make appearances as well. Its a great ensemble cast that Dark Shadows fans will love.

It is important to bear in mind though, that Dan Curtis was forced at the last minute by the studio to edit the film from over 2 hours to 90 minutes in just 24 hours' time. Thus the rough cut film may be confusing, as several key scenes were forced out of the movie. However, the film is currently being restored to its original director's cut and will be coming to DVD in a few years. Till then, enjoy the film as it is. Dark Shadows lives on!

This is a follow-up movie filmed after House of Dark Shadows [VHS] (1970) and filmed while the original ABC Network soap opera "Dark Shadows" (1966-1971) was still on television. This film was released during the last year of the original Dark Shadows serial. This film is my personal "Dark Shadows" favorite. It is the best and is more engrossing. Kate Jackson's performance is unforgettable.
Lara Parker is so memorable in her role as "Angelique" as she was on the original tv serial. Dark Shadows DVD Collection 1 As a child, I simply could not watch "Angelique". She gave me the willies and her eyes were perhaps hypnotizing. However, now I am an adult. I can sit and watch these "Dark Shadows" episodes with no problem. I think Miss Lara Parker is lovely.
All the main cast in this movie was also in the ABC Network "Dark Shadows" serial. David Selby, Kate Jackson, Grayson Hall, John Karlen, Lara Parker, Nancy Barrett, Jim Storm, Thayer David, Christopher Pennock, Diana Millay and Clarice Blackburn. I will not explain the plot of the film. This one should be a surprise to all gothic movie lovers. Quite sexy though. And you'll like Grayson Hall's 1960's dresses. Location: Lyndhurst Estate, Tarrytown, New York overlooking the Hudson River.

Update: DARK SHADOWS will be released May 11, 2012. Directed by Tim Burton.

Dark Shadows DVD Collection 1

This movie is great in that early 70s horror(reincarnation,occult themes)way.Extremely well done,with tons of atmosphere and beautiful camerawork.The acting is top-notch and Dan Curtis is at his best.I also love that the film deviated from the series a lot,like DARK SHADOWS in the bizzaro world.There's familiar characters(Angelique,Quentin,Laura,a mention of Elizabeth Stoddard),but they're not like we all know from TV.Many fans hate this movie because of the terrible editing that took place shortly before release.I think this movie should be reexamined.What's here is a gothic classic.

In this creepy, atmospheric sequel to "House of Dark Shadows", Quentin Collins(David Selby), the last of the surviving Collins clan, moves into the Gothic Collinwood estate with his beautiful young bride, Tracy(Kate Jackson) only to discover that the place is a breeding-ground for the supernatural. This leads to several encounters with a captivating 18th-century witch, Angelique(Lara Parker) who makes married life very difficult for the frightened duo to say the least. Admittedly, the film can't hold a candle to its predecessor(any technical problems the film has is due to the fact that it was cut to ribbons before finally being released), but this is probably as good a sequel as the filmmakers could have come up with after the stunning "House of Dark Shadows". Like the original, the film features a number of the series players, including Selby and Jackson in their film debuts, and boasts some truly striking Gothic atmosphere. Rumor has it that the missing footage from "Night of Dark Shadows" is in the process of being restored, and should be released, hopefully, by the end of next year.

In its current state, "Night of Dark Shadows" is a film which demands apologies from its fans. For anyone aware of its ludicrous 11th hour recutting and lost storyline, the knee-jerk response is to look upon it with pity, mumbling explanations and sympathy to any onlookers. For "Dark Shadows" fans, the film was initially an embarassment, a slipshod mess overlooked in favour of its less mutilated sibling "House of Dark Shadows": As the reasons for its incoherency became more commonly known, fans learned to enjoy it for what it might have been: Finally, with the publication of its complete scripts, they learned to apologise for it blindly, to such an extent that they often fail to acknowledge anything of value in the existing version, which is a great pity.

Sad and lopsided as it plays, shorn of a conclusion, with exposition torn away in jagged strips, "Night of Dark Shadows" astonishingly still contains a quality that begs to be enjoyed. Boasting a more polished production than the previous film, it seizes upon the first film's strengths in style and narrative, honing them for marriage with a far superior script and markedly more mature style. Whereas "House of Dark Shadows" replays as a succession of loud shouting set pieces, "Night" utlises its creative peaks to punctuate a highly charged and atmospheric narrative, which is eloquently conveyed throughout by the cast, dialogue and production.

Weaving deftly through classic literary achetypes and familiar "Dark Shadows" storylines, the script impresses throughout, with its wistful themes of eternal love and ghostly reincarnation, along with a deeply human side that inspires sympathy. Ironically, while shunning many of the traditional horror images of its predecessor, it manages to emerge as a deeply satisfying distillation of the gothic genre, though with a distinctly modern sense of plotting. Unlike the simplistic elemental notions of evil in "House of Dark Shadows", all the characters of "Night" firmly etched in shades of grey.

Seizing upon the television show's fondness for nightmare sequences, the film offers numerous dark tableaus, each cut down to starkly memorable images, uniquely memorable in their individual ways. The film also introduces sex to the world of "Dark Shadows", which may offend purists. However, it manages to treat these themes with a maturity which justifies their inclusion. In this Collinwood, rape and violence are equal evils to its supernatural forces.

The cast acquit themselves admirably throughout, with David Selby carrying the central role deftly. Grayson Hall's housekeeper Carlotta Drake excels through her restraint. Her lingering presence dominates each of her scenes, icy and peircing throughout. Lara Parker's statueque countenance compliments the ghostly Angelique perfectly, with a minimal approach making the most of her limited role.

Dan Curtis' direction is light-years away from the more juvenille approach displayed in "House". Presented with a script that resists overstatement, he uses a minimal approach which allows the actors to shine, composing the action in starkly poetic vignettes. Where the direction displayed in "House" is frequently frantic to the point of incoherency, "Night" is considered throughout, with every angle and cut appropriately chosen. This makes the fact that "Night" should have befallen such an aggressive re-cut especially tragic, as Sam Hall's script and Curtis' treatment lack any slack areas. Each line of dialogue within each scene actively works to advance the storyline and characters. Apparently incidental details such as Gerard laying bricks in an early scene foreshadow later developments, creating an organic storyline which is almost poetic in its development and resolution.

Wrapped up neatly with a satisfying twist that subverts the traditional gothic themes, "Night of Dark Shadows" remains an effective shocker even in partial form, with much to recommend. It is entirely adult in its mood, beautifully produced, and flawlessly executed. Even in a heavilly truncated form, "Night of Dark Shadows" does not fail to assert itself as the superior "Dark Shadows" film.

If you're a fan of the old Dark Shadows series, you're gonna get off on this one. Okay, so it's not "House of Dark Shadows," but it is a chance to see some of your favorite DS players in a strange "parallel-time" story. Same great locations as in "HODS," that great Bob Cobert music, the beautiful Lara Parker as Angelique, and the FANTASTIC Grayson Hall as Carlotta, the Collinwood housekeeper with a keen fashion sense who quite simply doesn't like the new Mrs. Quentin Collins! THIS MOVIE NEEDS TO BE RESTORED FOR IT'S DVD RELEASE!!! C'MOM MGM...THAT FOOTAGE HAS GOT TO BE SOMEWHERE!! PLEASE DO THE FANS OF DARK SHADOWS A FAVOR AND GIVE US THE COMPLETE MOVIE NEXT TIME!

Those that are not fans of Dark Shadows will never see the "Dan Curtis" creativity in this movie. The late Dan Curtis was like a Gene Roddenberry when it came to daytime horror drama. Underappreciated and never quite understood, he made us love to be scared. Night of Dark Shadows, gives David Selby and Kate Jackson (a very young Kate Jackson) a chance to standout on their own from the other cast members in their own movie. David Selby is quite versital and shows that he can portray more than one character and personality within a movie. Kate's role is unfortunately limited to just being suspicious and scared all the time. The plot is definately done in Curtis' style, moving quickly through the layers of suspense.

Panned as one of the worst movies -- I don't think so -- you gotta be a fan to appreciate it for it's time.

I love Dark Shadows, the original TV series and the two movies. This is the second of the two movies, that was cut dramatically for domestic distribution at the last minute. I'd love to see the lost footage, but as far I as recall the missing 20-some mins. were lost for years. The footage resurfaced some time ago without an audio track. Even without the missing parts, this is a fine example of early 70s supernatural thrillers. It stands toe to toe with the finest from Hammer or Amicus from the same period, or the DC line of horror comic books.

However, it disappoints many fans because all of the TV show cast do not appear. The cast in the film is wonderful. And it's great to see Grayson Hall as yet another character! The smaller cast makes this film tighter and more accessible to the new-comers and fans alike.

Honestly I think this film is the superior of the 2 Dark Shadows movies, but you're not going to find the continuation of the TV series (Barnabas' story is resolved at the end of the TV series), or even the first movie. It's a completely new tale featuring the witch, Angelique, Quintin Collins and his wife Daphne. But no Barnabas and no vampires. I'd love to see the movie and House of Dark Shadows on DVD! It's great Amazon has at least this one on demand, but I'm rather have this one to own.