EVERY FAMILY HAS ITS DEMONS IN DARK SHADOWS ARRIVING ONTO BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK, DVD and DIGITAL DOWNLOAD ON OCTOBER 2 FROM WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT GROUP RECOMMENDED BY WHOM YOU KNOW Our Coverage Sponsored by The Cutler Salon, Official Hairstylist of Whom You Know
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What sorcery is this? No, we’re not talking about television like Barnabas is-we’re talking about the fantastic fun-filled black magic that awaits you.
Fall is here and mystery is in the air with the newest scary sensation from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment Group: Dark Shadows.
With stellar actors ideally cast, Dark Shadows is not your run-of-the mill Halloween movie-it has carved out a unique spot for itself with an uncharacteristic plot, terrific special effects and spells galore.
Quirky, fun and magnificent, we really liked how it is not a ridiculous vampire movie, but rather, quite a fun one! Rated PG-13, we’d say the best audience for this are older kids and all adults who have not lost their love for Halloween.
If you are familiar with Tim Burton, you will find this work in keeping with his style-Dark Shadows absolutely is Burton-esque. From the music score to the colors and shades used intelligently to create a scene and obsession with details, all of which we were plugged into right down to Johnny Depp’s fingernails. Special effects consistently made us smile right down to no reflection in a mirror, only the toothbrush.
Non-special effects like Barnabas watching Scooby Doo also made us crack a grin. We liked how visually the sea was often returned to. The use of lighting was genius during the whole movie and we particularly applaud the use of chandeliers! If you are a Harry Potter fan, you will find there is a similar mood going on here and a prevailing theme in the movie is unrequited love.
Starting out with the Collins family in Liverpool, England in the year 1759, Dark Shadows follows this family as they emigrate to Maine and start a legendary fishing business that survives many generations and weathers various tragedies, which we won’t give away.
Fast forward to 1972, and some rise from the dead: Welcome Home, Barnabas Collins! Doesn’t everyone want their ancestors to come back to life and rescue them? The time period we suppose is well-done but since Peachy was born after 1972 she cannot personally comment on the authenticity from a “I lived it” standpoint. If you came of age in the 70’s, we believe you will relate well to this work and period hints will bring back your glory days.
The Collins’s mansion seems to be not so different from the Haunted Mansion in Disney World which was always one of Peachy’s most favorite spots on trips there. We adore the secret passages! It was designed for a staff of 100, which of course reminded us of our Downton Abbey withdrawl symptoms which were temporarily alleviated with such grandeur.
As far as the characters go, Johnny Depp was reason alone to watch this movie. His ability to morph into character and truly assume the identity of another is legendary and from past roles as the Mad Hatter (where he worked with Helena) and Jack Sparrow show his unparalleled ability to be a chameleon unlike any other.
We particularly applaud his diction and dialect and his makeup was outstandingly stunning. We’re not sure we’ve seen a better vampire.
Helena Bonham Carter was absolutely the right talent for her role-not that she is an obvious choice for an aging alcoholic psychiatrist-her talents clearly range from playing the Queen Mum to the Queen of Hearts and we thought an “Off with her Head” was imminent when Victoria Winters, the new nanny, sits down to dinner with the family on her first night.
Michelle Pfeiffer is the consummate family matriarch and aside from her talented quirkiness in character, we loved her hair throughout. Also, she is quite handy with a gun.
Finally, you know no one needs to twist our arm to get excited about Balls, called Galas in present day Manhattan, and there’s one that Dark Shadows builds up to that you won’t want to miss. Quite a happening!
Perfect to ring in autumn, Dark Shadows is sure to delight anyone with a fun wicked streak that delights in being entertained in a non-conventional way like us!
Whom You Know Recommends Dark Shadows & definitely watch it by candlelight.
***
All disc versions feature UltraViolet™
Vampires, werewolves and a family of quirky characters collide as “Dark Shadows” comes back to life, arriving onto Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital Download on October 2 from Warner Home Entertainment Group. Directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, “Dark Shadows” follows a vampire awoken from a multi-century sleep only to find that the family business is near ruin, his descendents are struggling and his past may come back to haunt him.
Burton directed "Dark Shadows" from a screenplay by Seth Grahame-Smith, story by John August and Grahame-Smith, based on the television series created by Dan Curtis. The film was produced by Oscar® winner Richard D. Zanuck ("Alice in Wonderland," "Driving Miss Daisy"), Oscar® winner Graham King, ("Rango," "The Departed"), Johnny Depp, Christi Dembrowski, and David Kennedy.
Johnny Depp leads the acclaimed cast, which also includes Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Bella Heathcote, Chloë Grace Moretz, Johnny Lee Miller, Gully McGrath and Jackie Earle Haley.
“Dark Shadows” will be available on Blu-ray Combo Pack for $35.99 and on single disc DVD for $28.98. The Blu-ray Combo Pack features a hi-definition and standard definition copy of the film and UltraViolet; and the single disc DVD features a standard definition copy of the film and UltraViolet. UltraViolet allows consumers to download and instantly stream the standard definition theatrical version of the film to a wide range of devices including computers and compatible tablets, smartphones, game consoles, Internet-connected TVs and Blu-ray players.*
SYNOPSIS
Director Tim Burton brings the cult classic series "Dark Shadows" to the big screen in a film featuring an all-star cast, led by Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham Carter.
In the year 1750, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from England to start a new life in America, where they build a fishing empire in the coastal Maine town that comes to carry their name: Collinsport. Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy...until he makes the grave mistake of falling in love with a beauty named Josette DuPres (Bella Heathcote) and breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death—turning him into a vampire, and then burying him...alive.
Nearly two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972, a stranger in an even stranger time. Returning to Collinwood Manor, he finds that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin, and the dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each harboring their own dark secrets.
Family matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer) is the one person Barnabas entrusts with the truth of his identity. But his rather odd and anachronistic behavior immediately raises the suspicions of the live-in psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), who has no idea what kind of problems she's really digging up.
As Barnabas sets out to restore his family name to its former glory, one thing stands in his way: Collinsport's leading denizen, who goes by the name Angie...and who bears a striking resemblance to a very old acquaintance of Barnabas Collins.
Also residing in Collinwood Manor are Elizabeth's ne'er-do-well brother, Roger Collins, (Jonny Lee Miller); her rebellious teenage daughter Carolyn Stoddard (Chloë Grace Moretz); and Roger's precocious 10-year-old son, David Collins (Gully McGrath). The longsuffering caretaker of Collinwood is Willie Loomis (Jackie Earle Haley), and new to the Collins' employ is David's nanny, Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcote), who is, mysteriously, the mirror image of Barnabas' one true love, Josette.
BLU-RAY AND DVD ELEMENTS
“Dark Shadows” Blu-ray Combo Pack contains the following special features:
See how the brilliant imaginations of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp created Dark Shadows with nine behind-the-film Focus Points.
1) BECOMING BARNABAS - It takes more than just a set of prosthetic fangs! Get the scoop from directly from Johnny Depp on his reimagining of this infamous and undead cult character.
2) WELCOME TO COLLINSPORT! - Explore every strange nook and peculiar cranny of the most spectacularly detailed city to never exist!
3) A MELEE OF MONSTROUS PROPORTIONS - Join the fight and experience the thrilling final battle sequence in a way that only Tim Burton and Johnny Depp could imagine.
4) ANGELIQUE: A WITCH SCORNED - Johnny Depp and Eva Green reveal the lurid details of their character's centuries old lascivious and tumultuous relationship.
5) RELIVING A DECADE - From groovy bell bottoms to classic rock & roll, strut through the Collinsport of the 70s and discover the topsy-turvy world that Barnabas finds himself in after centuries in the grave.
6) DARK SHADOWY SECRETS - Watch out for exploding buildings and all manner of bizarre, supernatural occurrences as Tim Burton's spectacular props and special effects wizards bring this eccentric world to crazy life.
7) THE COLLINSES: EVERY FAMILY HAS ITS DEMONS - Become scarily familiar with this creepy cast of quirky characters as Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and their co-stars reveal their unique working relationship.
8) COOPER ROCKS COLLINSPORT! - Shock rock the night away with the master of musical horror himself, Alice Cooper, as Johnny Depp and the cast invite him to rock the roof off of Collinsport Manor.
9) VAMPIRES, WITCHES AND WEREWOLVES, OH MY! - Uncover the method behind Tim Burton's madness as he twists and tweaks his favorite classic movie monsters for the gothic universe of Dark Shadows.
DELETED SCENES
“Dark Shadows” Standard Definition DVD contains the following special features:
THE COLLINSES: EVERY FAMILY HAS ITS DEMONS - Become scarily familiar with this creepy cast of quirky characters as Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and their co-stars reveal their unique working relationship.
DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS
On October 2, “Dark Shadows” will be available for download from online digital retailers including iTunes, Xbox, PlayStation, Amazon, Vudu and CinemaNow.
The film is also available digitally in High Definition (HD) VOD and Standard Definition (SD) VOD from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles.
ULTRAVIOLET
*UltraViolet allows you to collect, watch and share movies and TV shows in a whole new way. Available with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs, DVDs and Digital Downloads, UltraViolet lets you create a digital collection of movies and TV shows. Services such as Flixster and VUDU allow you to instantly stream and download UltraViolet content across a wide range of devices including computers and compatible tablets, smartphones, game consoles, Internet-connected TVs and Blu-ray players. Restrictions and limitations apply. Go to ultraviolet.flixster.com/info for details. Learn about VUDU compatible devices at vudu.com.
BASICS
PRODUCT SRP
Blu-ray Combo Pack $35.99
DVD $28.98
Standard Street Date: October 2, 2012
DVD Languages: English, Latin Spanish, Canadian French
BD Languages: English, Latin Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Canadian French
DVD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French
BD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Parisian French
Running Time: 113 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for comic horror violence, sexual content, some drug use, language and smoking
DLBY/SURR DLBY/DGTL [CC]
The Credits
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