Dark Shadows (Karanlık Gölgeler) (Film)

Dark Shadows (Turkish title: Karanlık Gölgeler) is a fantasy horror-comedy film directed by Tim Burton and released in 2012. The film is an adaptation of the American television series of the same name, which aired from 1966 to 1971. The main roles are played by Johnny Depp, Eva Green and Michelle Pfeiffer. The film centers on the story of vampire Barnabas Collins awakening two centuries after his burial.

Plot

In the 1750s the Collins family moves from England to America and founds the town of Collinsport in Maine. The family’s son Barnabas Collins is cursed by his servant Angelique, who practices dark magic, and transformed into a vampire. Angelique buries Barnabas alive. In 1972 Barnabas is accidentally unearthed and discovers that his family and the town have changed dramatically. Struggling to adapt to the modern world he attempts to rebuild his family’s wealth and legacy but finds that Angelique is still alive and has returned to destroy him.

Themes

The film revolves around themes of temporal change family loyalty revenge and identity. Cultural contrasts between the Victorian era and the 1970s highlight societal transformation. The vampire myth is blended with comedy and gothic elements to explore universal themes such as confronting the past and seeking renewed belonging.

Cast

• Johnny Depp – Barnabas Collins
• Eva Green – Angelique Bouchard
• Michelle Pfeiffer – Elizabeth Collins Stoddard
• Helena Bonham Carter – Dr. Julia Hoffman
• Chloë Grace Moretz – Carolyn Stoddard
• Jackie Earle Haley – Willie Loomis
• Jonny Lee Miller – Roger Collins
• Bella Heathcote – Victoria Winters / Josette

Dark Shadows (IMDb)

Production

The film was financed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Producers include Richard D. Zanuck Graham King Johnny Depp and Christi Dembrowski. The screenplay was written by Seth Grahame-Smith. Filming took place in 2011 at Pinewood Studios in England. Production design was handled by Rick Heinrichs and costume design by Colleen Atwood. The film was completed as a production that reflects Tim Burton’s stylized gothic visual aesthetic.

Character Analysis

• Barnabas Collins: A vampire cursed in the 18th century he experiences cultural shock upon emerging into the modern world. He is a figure caught between the values of the past and the realities of the present.
• Angelique Bouchard: A witch who curses Barnabas after he rejects her love. She is the antagonist driven by a thirst for power and control.
• Elizabeth Collins Stoddard: The matriarch of the family portrayed as a strong figure committed to traditional values.
• Victoria Winters: The family’s new governess and the reincarnation of Barnabas’s former love Josette. In the film she symbolizes innocence.

Awards and Nominations

Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy & Horror Films (Saturn Awards)

• Best Performance by a Younger Actor – Nominee: Chloë Grace Moretz
• Best Production Design – Nominee: Rick Heinrichs

BMI Film & TV Awards

• BMI Film Music Award – Winner: Danny Elfman

British Society of Cinematographers

• GBCT Cinematographer Award – Nominee: Des Whelan

Kids' Choice Awards USA

• Favorite Movie Actor – Winner: Johnny Depp

People's Choice Awards USA

• Favorite Comedy Movie – Nominee

Young Artist Awards

• Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Supporting Role – Nominee: Gulliver McGrath

Empire Awards UK

• Best Horror Film – Nominee

Golden Trailer Awards

• Best Voice Over TV Spot – Nominee
• Best Animation/Family Poster – Nominee
• Best Summer 2012 Blockbuster Poster – Nominee
• Best Wildposts – Nominee

Golden Schmoes Awards

• Biggest Disappointment of the Year – Nominee

Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards

• Best Film – Nominee: Tim Burton