Dark Shadows

2012 has been a good year so far (yes i know we are only 23 days in detractors, but it has been a good 23 days). And I have a strong feeling it is only going to get better from here. Why is that? Well, in 2012 Mr. Tim Burton is releasing not one, but two new films. 

I know, it is that great. 

The first movie to be released is Dark Shadows based on the gothic soap opera that aired weekdays from 1966 to 1971. House of Dark Shadows, 1970, was the first film based on the series, it was directed by the series creator Dan Curtis. In 1971 Curtis released the sequel Night of Dark Shadows and in 1991 another Dark Shadows series was on television. This time the series only lasted 12 episodes, as opposed to the originals 1,225. That was not to be the end of the Dan Curtis's Dark Shadows, as in 2005 he was executive producer of the made for TV movie also titled, you guessed it, Dark Shadows. The 2005 movie did not get very positive reviews but can boast casting 2011's actress of the year, Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life, The Help, Take Shelter, The Debt, and so much more), in her first role that was not for a TV series. 

In short, the movie is about Barnabas Collins, a wealthy playboy who gets turned into a vampire by a witch named Angelique Bouchard, and is buried alive for two centuries. Barnabas returns to Collinwood Manor when he is freed from his tomb to find his once great estate in ruin. The year is now 1972. Most of the film takes place in the Manor, where we meet characters like Matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard and live-in psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman. 

The cast includes Burton favorites, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helen Bohem-Carter, and Christopher Lee. Some newcomers to the world of Burton include Chloe Moretz (Kick Ass), Eva Green (Casino Royale), Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen), and Jonny Lee Miller (Hackers). Alice Cooper is even in the movie, and so is Hannah Murray (Cassie from Skins anybody?).

The story is obviously nothing new, but nonetheless I can not wait to see what Tim, an avid fan of the original, does with it. It is said that his film will be more character driven; it was written by Seth Grahame-Smith the author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter. The latter having been adapted for the screen and at the moment is in post production with Tim Burton as a producer.

The movie is in post-production at the moment and is to be released on the 11th may 2012 in the USA, not sure when it will be released in South Africa, but heres to hoping it is not much later. 

The cast of the original series. The series went on for five years and had 1,225 episodes.

First officially released photo featuring the main cast of Tim Burton's Dark Shadows. Pretty Awesome!

In my next post i'm talking Frankenweenie.

:)