Johnny Depp’s Gothic Thriller: Dark Shadows 2012

Director Tim Burton will be releasing his latest movie "Dark Shadows" on May 11, 2012. The movie is based on the 1960s hit gothic soap opera "Dark Shadows". In July 2007, Warner Bros. gained the rights for the soap opera series from the estate of its creator Dan Curtis. Tim Burton was hired as director and Johnny Depp was signed to the staring role. The movie project was delayed for a year due to the Writers Guild of America strike. In 2009 development for the project began. Screen writer John August was writing the script for "Dark Shadows", but he was dropped. In 2010 author and screen writer Seth Grahame - Smith replaced August in writing the screenplay. Filming began in May 2011. The movie was filmed entirely in England at the Pinewood Studios.

The main character Barnabas Collins, portrayed by Johnny Depp, is a wealthy 18 ^th century gentleman and playboy. A witch, Angelique Bouchard, angry because Barnabas broke her heart, turned him into a vampire and buries him alive in a tomb. After 2 centuries he is uncovered by construction workers. Barnabas emerges into the changed world of 1972. He returns to his home of Collinwood Manor to find his grand estate has fallen into ruin and inhabited by his few remaining dysfunctional descendants, each with their own dark secret. The soap opera, which is tragic and involves a lot of time travel, follows Barnabas Collin's quest to find his true lost love and a way to free himself from being a vampire. However in Tim Burton's version Barnabas fight werewolves, ghosts, and witches to protect his descendants from Angelique, who's still alive.

This supernatural thriller's main characters are:

Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter) the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland. She is the prim and proper psychiatrist, who has taken up residence with the Collins family to care for their troubled youngest boy. Dr. Hoffman's been there for years, working with David but not making any progress. David still claims he sees ghosts and talks with his dead mother. Obviously she's an eccentric, and definitely likes a drink or two. She's definitely a little bit off her rocker, and is a woman with a lot of secrets herself.

Carolyn Stoddard (Chlo ë Moretz) is on the human side of the spectrum in Dark Shadows though that doesn't mean this cousin of young David Collins is not without her own peculiarities. "Carolyn is your typical early-1970s teenager," Grahame-Smith says. "She likes her music and likes her magazines, and does not like anyone in her family. She likes to keep her door closed and keep to herself. She's pretty normal, but appearances can be deceiving."

Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) turns up here as the villain of the story. Angelique is a witch who has known Barnabas since the 1700s, when they had an affair that went sour. She is the one who cursed him to be a vampire and locked him in that box. Since he has been away, Angelique has made it her life's mission to destroy the Collins family. So when Barnabas turns up again after all these years, she's not very happy to see him.

David Collins (Gulliver McGrath) is lonely, confused, and neglected by his pompous father (Jonny Lee Miller). David has no one to confide in except his bizarre psychiatrist and the dead people he claims to see. Grahame-Smith describes him as a sweet, curious, precocious little boy whose family has branded him as slightly crazy. Then he finally gets a new caretaker to look after him.

Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcote) is the young woman who arrives to become David's new governess, only to find herself swept up in the vampire-witch melodrama. "When Barnabas meets Victoria, he's instantly reminded of the woman he lost in the 1700s, before he was cursed to be a vampire," Grahame-Smith says. "I wouldn't say he falls in love with her, but there's an instant attraction, an instant connection." Is she the reincarnation of his doomed lover Josette du Pres? "We get the sense at the beginning she has a secret past, and that's unraveled as it goes on," the screenwriter says.

Mrs. Johnson (Ray Shirley) is the mostly blind, mostly deaf maid, who has been with the family for decades and decades.

Willie Loomis (Jackie Earle Haley) is Groundskeeper Willie is a more competent servant than Mrs. Johnson, but that's not saying much. "He is the guy who takes out the trash, mows the lawns, and fixes the cars, except he is usually so drunk and so disinterested that he does not take his job seriously anymore," Grahame-Smith says. "The lawn is overgrown, the house has fallen into disrepair, and all the cars are on cinder blocks. His heart's definitely not in the job anymore."

Roger Collins (Jonny Lee Miller), the scion of the once-great Collins family, is one of the main reasons the aristocratic clan has fallen into such disgrace. "He's a creepy, self-centered guy who likes to order Willie around, likes to pretend the family is still on top of his game," Grahame-Smith says. "Not only is he a bad father to David, but he is a poor manager of whatever meager wealth the family retains. When Barnabas shows up and has some very specific ideas about how to make things right, he's obviously going to bump heads with Roger Collins."

Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer) is the mother of Carolyn Stoddard, and mother-figure to David. She's the one adult member of the Collins clan who is at least slightly competent. "Elizabeth is the rock of the family. She's the matriarch," Grahame-Smith says. "She's the keeper of the Collins history, and a fierce protector of what remains of her family. She's the one that insists on the best care for the children, even though money isn't what it used to be. She's a very strong woman who unfortunately has been dealt a very difficult deck. With a witch perpetually trying to destroy her, and a long lost vampire relative turning up to reclaim control, there's just too much for her to handle," Grahame-Smith says.

For all who love vampire movies "Dark Shadows" would be the movie to watch this spring. As stated previously the movie will be released May 11, 2012.

Reference:

Johnny Depp's true 'Dark Shadows' vampire revealed! -- EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK

by Anthony Breznican -INSIDE MOVIES

McNary, Dave (July 15, 2010). "WB moves on Depp's 'Shadow'". Variety.

Siegel, Tatiana (January 21, 2009). "John August to pen 'Preacher' film". Variety.

Kroll, Justin (February 2, 2011). "'Dark Shadows' ready for the light". Variety.

San Diego Comic-Con 2011: Dark Shadows Panel Highlights; Original Cast Cameos Confirmed for Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Film". Dread Central. July 23, 2011.

A B Richards, Olly (November 2011). "The Weird Bunch". Empire Magazine: 70.

"Dark Shadows Movie Casts Joshua Collins". Dark Shadows News Page. July 26, 2011.

"Johnny Depp's true 'Dark Shadows' vampire revealed! -- EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK". Entertainment Weekly. September 22, 2011.

"Dates Set for Dark Shadows, Journey 2 and Rivals". ComingSoon.net. May 13, 2011.

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