Putting bizarre, dark and Tim Burton in the same sentence is hardly unusual.
The man responsible for films such as Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland (all featuring Johnny Depp), Burton has the ability to take a story and give it a dark, twisted feel.
This time around, Burton tells the story of imprisoned vampire Barnabas Collins (Depp).
Although Barnabas has his charming and endearing side, he is also more than a little partial to an occasional drink of human blood.
Barnabas was once the big man around Collinsport, the fishing village established by his rich and powerful family.
But Barnabas made the mistake of spurning the advance of a local lass who just happened to be a witch.
Rejected and angry, she had Barnabas buried in a coffin for eternity.
Accidentally set free, he returns to his ancestral home 200 years later, in 1972, totally bewildered at how the world has changed.
He finds that his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection.
He also finds that the very same witch who imprisoned him has a descendant who now runs the town. Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) knows all about Barnabas and wants him just as much as her ancestor did 200 years earlier.
So Barnabas must find a way to fit in with his new family, turn the family business around, avoid Angelique - and stay alive.
Yes, it is bizarre and dark, but entertaining in a spooky kind of way.
Dark Shadows
(M) Roadshow
Rating: 3 / 5
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