Better Late Then Never

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Blistering performances.

I protest!!!! The low # ratings are offensive to me!! House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows are Icons of the horror movies from the late '60's and '70's. The two movies are cult classics based on the ground breaking soap opera classic from the same era of the two movies - think a fan base of Star Wars or Terminator. At any rate Dan Curtis was a GENIUS when it came to motion media production - just my 2 cents.

Film adaptations of TV shows rarely work. And vice versa. It's just two different worlds of mainstream entertainment which have their own separate formulas. But to attempt a big screen version of a soap opera, in my humble opinion, is usually a lost cause. Dan Curtis, creator of the popular Gothic horror soap, Dark Shadows, attempted a film adaptation a year earlier, with House Of Dark Shadows. A retelling of the original storyline of Vampire, Barnabas Collins. The show's most popular character. A good movie. A great movie, some may say. But does it really do the show, and more specifically, that storyline, justice? Not really. It's too many episodes to cover, and to anyone who is familiar with the show, the movie should seem very rushed in comparison. Like I said. A good movie. But it's flaws are there, and they're obvious, but a lot of them couldn't be helped. Fast forward a year later. Dark Shadows has been cancelled. But the movie was a hit. And I think we all know by now what happens any time a Horror film gains even a glimmer of popularity. With the constant stress of the show no longer holding him back, Dan Curtis gathers up as many DS cast members he can and makes plans for yet another movie. Since the first one centered on Barnabas, it's only common sense that this new movie would revolve around the second most popular character, Quentin Collins. Although, Quentin's story would not be a recreation of anything. Merely a Dark Shadowsy story that might remind one of several of the show's story lines. I tend to think this was the right decision as it eliminates the possibility of the movie having to be molded after a series of events it couldn't possibly live up to. Filmed in the same eerie old mansion as House. This was a fine choice for location, but it ain't Collinwood, but whatever. It isn't clear as to whether or not the events of the first movie actually happened from this movie's point-of-view, or if this is a stand alone story, but Collinwood is currently abandoned, which makes me think it is acknowledged. Quentin Collins, and his wife, Tracy, have inherited Collinwood and are on their way to Collinsport, Maine to collect and to live a life of luxury. And Quentin, being the painter, is looking forward to much inspiration amongst the beautifully dreary scenery. Before the couple is even settled in, the first glimpse of weirdness comes from the housekeeper. Or whatever she is. Just some person who takes care of stuff, I guess. Grayson Hall plays Carlotta Drake, who seems to know a bit much about this house, and is slightly too invested in how things go. Also, Quentin is being plagued by nightmares. Reliving memories that aren't his own. Or are they? Quentin is remembering things that happened to a man named Charles Collins, who lived at Collinwood over 150 years ago. Charles was married to Laura Collins, but fooled around with his brother Gabriel's wife, Angelique. A witch. We witness the events which led to Angelique's hanging by a witch hunting Reverend, as well as Charles' own demise at the hands of his brother. The more Quentin has these dreams, the less he seems like Quentin. He becomes cold, distant and temperamental. He attacks and berates Tracy without provocation. We find out the ghost of Angelique is involved. She wants Quentin to be Charles, and she wants Tracy gone. This may not be the same Angelique from the show, but anyone familiar knows what Angelique wants, Angelique gets. While Night Of Dark Shadows may not have the same problems as the first movie, that doesn't mean it doesn't have its own problems. One big problem that not only killed this movie, but the chances for a third one, is the fact that a whopping 45 minutes was ordered to be cut. Still an hour an a half long even with the missing scenes, the film was stripped of many conversations and situations which gave the film much more of a point. as well as the characters depth. Still eerie, haunting, atmosphereic and creepy, but something is clearly missing from this movie. Something about it is so empty, so lonely. As if it's in need of an extra main character. No. It's merely missing 45 minutes of story. That's all. Still very much worthwhile for a Dark Shadows fan or a fan of stuff like Burnt Offerings. An absolutely gorgeous score by Robert Cobert, which is what really saves this one for me. As I said, there was to be a third Dark Shadows movie, but after dealing with the frustration of this one, and probably a growing boredom with the world of Dark Shadows in general, Dan Curtis decided to move on to non- Dark Shadowsy projects. As with the show, fans will always be forced ask the "what if" questions about this movie. That is, as long as the film in its entirety is without release. It's not perfect by any means, but for the time being, Dan Curtis' final chapter in the Dark Shadows story will have to do. 7/10

...Especially considering how terrible the "Dark Shadows" television series could be. Sure, there were lots of talented people (Jonathan Frid, Louis Edmonds, Joan Bennett) involved with the show, and at times it worked. But when "DS" was bad it was *breathtakingly* bad: flubbed lines galore, actors and crew bumping into flimsy sets that were little more than cardboard, and laughable story lines. That's why "Night of Dark Shadows" comes as such a frightening, refreshing surprise! Quentin Collins (David Selby) inherits the Collinwood estate in Maine and moves into the rambling, creepy-looking mansion on the grounds with his wife, Tracy (Kate Jackson). Quentin is a painter and Carlotta (Grayson Hall), the housekeeper, informs him that Charles Collins--Quentin's ancestor and an inhabitant of the house during the nineteenth century--was a painter, too. Quentin falls in love with Collinwood, but it isn't long before Tracy begins to notice that the house and its troubled history (which revolves around a witch named Angelique, played by the gorgeous Lara Parker) are exerting an unhealthy influence on her husband. It's up to Tracy and Alex and Claire Jenkins (John Karlen and Nancy Barrett), friends of the Collinses, to wrest Quentin's soul from the grip of Angelique. All the actors do a terrific job, as does director Dan Curtis. I believe cinematographer Richard Shore should be singled out for particular praise; he mounts a number of eerily effective shots, the best of which is Quentin's first fleeting, unsettling glimpse of Collinwood as it once was (when he sees Angelique's corpse hanging from a gnarled oak in front of the house). Robert Cobert provides a first-rate musical score that ranges from ethereal to harsh and grating, as needed. When it was completed, "Night of Dark Shadows" ran for 129 minutes. MGM demanded extensive edits and by the time the film was released to theaters, it had been whittled down to just 95 minutes. Over the years many fans have expressed scorn for this editing process, calling it clumsy and inept, but I think "Night" works beautifully as it is (though I'd certainly be interested in seeing the unedited version). The film is loaded with atmosphere, and the scares build steadily until "Night of Dark Shadows" reaches its inevitable, bone-chilling conclusion.

Quentin Collins(David Selby)moves into the Collinwood manor with his lovely wife Tracy(Kate Jackson)not knowing that the evil presence of his look-a-like ancestor Charles(..with a noticeable limp signifying to the viewer his appearance)and the lynched witch Angelique(Lara Parker with limited dialogue still scoring thanks to her sinister presentation)live within ready to take over their lives. Their maid-servant Carlotta(Grayson Hall, winning as the human host of a very cleverly subdued, but appropriately sneaky reincarnated child spirit who befriended Angelique)is secretly working for Angelique in the attempt to keep Quentin in the tower room where Charles and Angelique had a torrid affair, which also was his studio, as the menacing spirit takes hold over time. Meanwhile, Tracy tries to rescue her husband from Charles' grasp, with help from their friends, Alex & Claire Jenkins(Dark Shadows regulars John Karlen & Nancy Barrett)who live at a nearby cottage. Tracy finds herself outmatched thanks to Carlotta and man-servant Gerard(Jim Storm, in the film mainly as a heel whose motivations are inappropriately defined)who manipulatively persuade Quentin to continue to work in the tower. The film depicts, somewhat, Tracy's battle to keep her husband from being overtaken by dark forces as the spirits of Angelique and Charles haunt the manor, while her life is in constant danger.The version I watched, presented on Chiller, was badly tampered with in post-production. It seems very important scenes which define perilous situations are interrupted by cuts and background music stops abruptly at key moments. You can plainly see the scissors at work. I've read from sources that a complete director's cut is available, but certain troubles continue(..such as dubbing, I believe and dueling production companies regarding the film's rights)to keep it away from the public. It's a shame, because I might like this one if I could see the story play out in a complete form instead of a badly botched hack-job. Selby attempts courageously to tackle duel roles, as innocent Quentin who adores his wife Tracy, and the vicious and corrupt Charles who seems to be a male mirror image of his lover Angelique. Karlen, against type, actually is the hero of the film, along with Barrett, attempting to remove his pal from the clutches of the evil which permeates within the Collinwood manor. Hall plays her character lurking about, quietly stirring the pot, but I'm never sure we ever know Carlotta all that well. Her character is rather undefined. Perhaps the spirit has already consumed her, taken full custody of the human host. I never understood Gerard. I think he lusts after both Carlotta and Tracy, but I feel that he might've been more properly defined in the longer version. I think this is a more imaginative film that "House of Dark Shadows" since that film was basically a rehash of familiar material, but it suffers due to the tinkering which remains a jarring distraction. I liked the camera-work, and we can see Dan Curtis sharpening his visual skills with each film he directs. Many might find that the ending to his far superior later "house of evil" feature, Burnt Offerings echos "Night of Dark Shadows" as our couple are almost free from the sinister trappings of the Collins-Stoddard manor only to succumb to it's powers. Unfortunately, the ending is so orchestrated early on thanks to the painting of *Charles*, that it doesn't produce the necessary effect it would otherwise. There's no surprise when you have already seen the twist painted to canvas. One sequence that truly puzzled me was when Angelique's evil spirit corners a trapped Tracy only to never explain what exactly transpired(..of course this was one of the key sequences cut to ribbons). And, there's a suicide which never quite made sense to me either as Angelique led a specific servant to certain destruction. The film reflects past memories which come to Quentin in dreams as he sees what took place many years ago setting up the plot. What this film lacks that "House of Dark Shadows" has in spades is atmosphere. The melodrama is intact, but the dark Gothic elements which were such a staple on the soap opera are missing, for the exception of evil spirits Angelique and Charles. The absence of Barnabas Collins can be felt as well, with Angelique being the motivating source of all things evil this time around. I wonder how good the official cut, made the way Curtis & Hall intended, might be.