DARK SHADOWS

Regardless of what cynical filmies might say, Tim Burton is an autuer. His films are unmistakable and you could go into them blindly and know within seconds that he was the director. I've always loved him because he offers a unique and quirky fantasy that few others do. He allows us to be children again and takes us to spooky places. Unfortunately he lost me as a fan for a while when he made movies like Planet of the Apes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alice In Wonderland. For me his vision was lost and it felt like he was clutching at straws, desperately trying to live up to his reputation. Thank God for Dark Shadows! This is classic Burton in every sense as he reimagines the classic soap opera from the 60s. Stylistically its like a cross between the Adams Family and Beetlejuice with a touch of Sleepy Hollow. This is the umpteenth time he's worked with Johnny Depp and it's a winning combo. Depp does what Depp does best as he presents us with a quirky and completely loveable vampire character who emerges in the 70s from a 200 year imprisonment and sets out to become a family man. His observations of the 1970s culture is hilarious and his delivery is brilliant. For a Burton film I found it to be nicely understated. It's not a movie that relies on special fx and it's a welcome return to the early era movies Burton used to make. It has the charm of Edward Scissorhands and will appeal to several demographics. Burton's next film is a remake of his own short, Frankenweenie. The trailers for it look incredible and its comforting to know that he's got his groove back.

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