House of Dark Shadows (DVD)

Campy and fun

Horror film scholars have always been split on the merits of HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS; some consider it a cheesy collection of soap opera characters and contrived situations, others appreciate the films cinematic style and overall vitality, especially during a period was Hammer was giving us embarrassments like THE SCARS OF DRACULA. Ive always loved HOUSE, goofy soap opera elements be damned. Every single shot in this movie is carefully composed, every set-up creative and inspired. Frid breaks new ground as a tortured, Byronic vampire, and the rest of the cast, framed and photographed with aggressive imagination, comes off just fine. Sure, Julias sudden love for Barnabas is ludicrous, but most of this movie is surprisingly stylish, with slo-mo blood kills, Orson Welles-style dissolves, incredible angles and camera moves, expressive dark cinematography (this really IS a house of dark shadows!), fabulous real locations instead of crummy sets, and Dick Smiths make-up creations making up for any script shortcomings. Fans should be very pleased with this new Blu-ray edition, which presents the film in 1.85 widescreen, preserving Curtis grand compositions (sorry, but zooming up the TCM print does not produce the same results). Yep, its a shame that there are no extras (not to mention the much-discussed restored footage we never got), but the movie itself is more than worth the purchase. Highly recommended!

First theater-based film on the soap opera tv series. Well worth seeing and getting even if you were not a fan of the soap tv series, this one will not dissapoint you. Filmed in a faster paced movie type mode with the soap series cast. Stars: JONATHAN FRID, GRAYSON HALL, LARA PARKER and many others. This one has come out at the same time on dvd with the second and final Dark Shadows Theater movie with the original soap cast titled: Night of Dark Shadows is also available.

Takes me back, excellent service and product

This is not the full movie. It is an edited version. You should know this before you buy.

This movie puts the DARK SHADOWS characters and actors into a high-quality production that goes way beyond what could be done within the limits of televisions low budget, tight schedule, and broadcast standards. I felt the movie itself was pretty decent, but was bothered by the lack of any attempt whatsoever to logically integrate the storyline with that of the television program. Granted, this would have been difficult to do, since the television show was a serial, rather than a series, but it would have been possible. The show could have alluded to events it didnt actually depict, which could have supplied a plot for the movie. Of course, it was up to Dan Curtis whether or not to do this, but it would have made us purists happier. (Come to think of it, however, the television show had introduced the plot element of parallel time when the movie was released, so if youre willing to do some creative imagining on Dan Curtis behalf, you can see the events in the movie as yet another parallel time line.)

Oh my goodness...... Dan Curtis has done it again, why is it that every time I watch this movie and its original TV series that I feel like Im part of the family??? It literally takes you into their world. This movie was fantastic!!! Watched it 3 times since it arrived, cant get enough of them, I considered to be part of the Collins family.

This movie has a lot of Gothic atmosphere and the storyline is very good. It follows from the TV show but has twists and turns of its own. It was great to see the characters again and the Tarrytown setting of Lyndhurst is perfect for Collinwood. I think Dark Shadows fans will really enjoy this movie. It certainly puts the latest Dark Shadows movie by Tim Burton to shame.

I saw this movie in 1970 in Houston Texas. It had not even came close to where I live in Louisiana. I watched the TV shows everyday and seeing it made into a movie was the icing on the cake. I love the old shows and did find my VHS after I ordered this DVD. I love it and would take nothing for the show and my memories as how my kids and I grew up watching it. I also really enjoyed the TV soap that came out in 1990, i believe with Ben Cross. There couldnt have been a better group of actors and it was most like the first Dark Shadows with newer times. I also have that long 3 disc movie. It is wonderfully in taste with what the show really was about. A shame it wasnt allowed to continue on TV. The Dark Shadows that Johnny Depp was in was a disgrace to the memory of a wonderful spook show that many of us remember always.

On time … dvd with great quality