"Dark Shadows" : Bloody Family Ancestry

Period pieces are current interpretations of time passed, sometimes devoted to being historically accurate, and in some cases taken with much more artistic liberty. In any case, they are an outsiders point of view or perception of another era no matter how recent or distant this might be. Some directors have a predilection for making period films that aim to bring to live events that occurred centuries ago, other perhaps desire to relive the time of their childhood, as even if the time being depicted is part of ones memory, the perception with which its being seen has changed. In "Dark Shadows", Tim Burton attempts to create a period piece, within a period piece, a comedy within an ancestral curse and 70's nostalgia. Not only does he attempt to pay homage to the soap opera on which the film its based, but he does so by layering tons of dry humor, sexual innuendo, very dark satire, and lavish set decoration and an overstylized look. So much is being piled up here that at times its hard to keep up with the tone diversity, and the awkwardness of it all, being this not completely negative since Tim Burton is not characterized by straightforwardness in his work. Using as a guiding light the importance of family above all things, the film is funny in its own clashing-of -eras way, making fun of the inadequacies of an 18th century vampire as he deals with the psychedelic modernity of the Vietnam War years. Stylistically it reeks of Burton, not only because of the appearance of his famous muse, Johnny Depp, but because of the overall look and feel of the film, a mix of  Beetlejuice's inappropriateness and Sleepy Hollow's sinister but classy visuals, with a spark of quirky Corpse Bride's eternal but decaying romance. Is as if all of Burton's abstract personalities collided into one film, which at times makes "Dark Shadows" irreverently entertaining and then a bit too unsure of its tone.

Barnabas Collins (Depp) narrates the story of his family, as they came to America from England as entrepreneurs in the fishing business, founding the town of Collinsport , and building Collinwood, their luxurious mansion. Torn between the love of his life and a jealous lover, who turns out a witch, Barnabas is cursed to become a vampire and suffer for eternity the loss of his beloved. Buried for two centuries he comes back from the shadows to find his current relatives in the 20th century. As he adapts to a ensemble of disturbed mix of family members, he is faced with the his eternal enemy/lover, Angelique (Eva Green), who still wants him all for herself. With the help of his strange pack Barnabas sets out to rebuild the Collins' fishing empire and perhaps even find love once more to share for all eternity. The film contains some unexpected overly sexual gags, and sometimes very desensitized portrayals of murder, again playing against the backdrop of a dark comedy, sometimes so dark and hidden in the Old English lines recited by Deep. Although the star has magnetism in almost anything he does, sometimes here the side stories are two many and none really ever gets fully developed, making Barnabas the only sort of connecting liaison between all of them. One can see the inspiration for most the artistic choices and even the comedic aspect of the story, visually it is cohesive, with such glossy and lugubrious plasticity. Burton's directorial talents and as an artist shine here, even in this high profile studio film, if feels like a pop-gloom film that fits right in with the rest of his filmography. Nevertheless, the concept its more impressive than the details in the plot and the attempt to construct such a loaded, genre-ambiguous movie.

There is plenty of enjoyable moments in the film, most of them involving Barnabas and his uncanny honesty and well-mannered way of carrying himself. The irony of such an educated, royalty-like gentleman being cursed into an irrational, blood sucking creature is brilliant. This time period seems perfect for such a flamboyant character to exist, even in his extravagant attires, he appears to fit in with the rest of the modern Collins. Barnabas is the patriarch the family was missing, a father figure to ghost-friendly David (Gulliver McGrath), a cool uncle to teenage rebel Carolyn (Chloe Grace Moretz) and loyal "elder" to the elegant matriarch Elizabeth (Michelle Pfeiffer). Indeed for him, blood is thicker than water, thick enough to endure centuries. Blood certainly becomes a motif in the story, a biological connection to ones kin and the source of life and curse for such creature of the dark. Here is where the film shifts again into something else. A love story that serves as the protagonist's cure and motivation, but even as we find out Vicky's past, this epic love,founded in some sort of reincarnation, never feels like it takes center stage. Between his efforts to be back in business, turn human, fight off Angelique, and be there for the family , Barnabas' story feels like a little too much of a little too much. If I overlook this clusters of ideas , I can recall great touches such as the half bashing/half product placement add for McDonald's demonic powers, or Alice Cooper's appearance at perhaps the one party where he wont be the strangest character.

A visual delight produced with great care for detail, splendidly lead by a monstrous and yet original Johnny Depp, and true to Tim Burton's vision, "Dark Shadows" is after all a good watch. If from the trailer you are expecting delirious laughter, then you might get disappointed, but if you watch it and search for the dispersed highlights through the film, you will have a good time. Its tone probably will be greatly misunderstood or even hated, but as most things from this director it calls for  an acquired taste. If you are up for a weird, mix feelings, gloomy comedy then this might be up your alley. Out in Blu-ray/DVD Now. Grade B.