House of Dark Shadows (1970)

"The Madonnas rest high above.  The lion's head watches the dove.  And in the tomb beneath the hill, the secret flame blows bright and still."

In 1970, a theatrical version of Dark Shadows was released in theaters and was quite profitable for MGM. It was called House of Dark Shadows and remains to this day a creepy, atmospheric and frightening movie. Directed by series creator Dan Curtis, it combines the story of the introduction of Barnabas Collins with the story of his obsession over long-lost love, Josette DuPres.

In order to successfully consolidate what occurred over the course of 154 TV episodes into a 97-minute movie, Curtis and screenwriters Sam Hall and Gordon Russell, also Dark Shadows veterans, had to take some liberties with the story. They did a remarkable job of honoring the original series while at the same time producing a stand-alone movie experience. In essence, they eliminated the character of Victoria Winters (actress Alexandra Moltke had left the series by then) and turned the character Maggie Evans into both the Collins family governess and the possible reincarnation of Josette DuPres.

Since the movie was filmed three years into the TV show, but was telling a story that was two years old, many current cast members got to participate as different characters. Virtually every familiar face from Dark Shadows, the series, appeared in House of Dark Shadows, the movie. And the character of Professor Elliott Stokes (whom I liken to Van Helsing from Dracula), introduced in the series long after the original Barnabas storyline, became a prominent role in the movie.

While the faces are the same, you might at times think the actors behind them are different due to the improvement in their thespian skills. They are actually acting, instead of reading (and forgetting) lines. Also, the sets are positively sturdy when compared to the series. Filmed on location in upstate New York, there’s no fear that they’re going to topple over onto the cast. And they are milked for all their Gothic worth… spider webs, fog, dust, decay and, yes, a lot of dark shadows. Finally, the brief musical cues of composer Robert Cobert, while familiar, are beefed up and extended, providing a marvelous genre soundtrack.

Even if I were not a Dark Shadows fan, I would love House of Dark Shadows. I wholeheartedly recommend it as a classic horror movie of the 70’s. It doesn’t hurt that Barnabas Collins is portrayed almost completely as sadistic and evil, with little of the romantic pining he did later in the series. He’s not really a “reluctant vampire” at all in the movie, which makes him (and it) all the more terrifying.

When House of Dark Shadows was first released, my aunt Nancy took me to see it at the Chief Theater in Enid, Oklahoma. Going after school on a weekday, we arrived late; I realize now it was about 35 minutes into the movie. (After Carolyn’s death-by-vampire, David was playing at the deserted swimming pool on the Collins estate.) 35 minutes later, when Barnabas was transformed into an old man, I told Nancy I wanted to leave. She asked, “To the bathroom?” I replied, “No, I want to leave the movie.”

Once again, as a child, Dark Shadows had terrified me. I have no doubt it was a huge influence on my ever-growing, adult fondness for horror movies. It will always have a spot in my heart, regardless of its incarnation.

For more of my thoughts about Dark Shadows, visit Downright Creepy.

Tomorrow:  Trog!