I always had a lot of sympathy for writer/director/producer Dan Curtis, and have a great deal of respect for the contributions he made to the world of cinematic as well as made-for-TV horror movies. Still, even though I found all of his movies that I've seen entertaining while they lasted, I must admit that – for some strange reason – not many of them are truly memorable. "The Night Stalker" forms an exception, but I honestly can't remember too much about such titles like "Burnt Offerings", "Curse of the Black Widow" or even the predecessor of this film; "House of Dark Shadows". I'm afraid it'll be just like that for "Night of Dark Shadows" as well. It's an admirable and worthwhile effort, especially because Curtis didn't opt for the safe formula to further exploit the character and story line of vampire patriarch Barnabas Collins, but the film doesn't make a lasting impression and surely I will have troubles remembering it in a couple of months already. But hey, that's also one of the reasons why I write these things, namely to research and recall that – albeit forgettable – it was at least enjoyable.
David Selby – also known from the landmark TV-series – replaces Jonathan Frid as the lead star of this installment. In present day Maine, he portrays another descendant of the infamous Collins clan, Quinten. He moves into the family home Collinwood with his amiable wife Tracy and hopes to quietly and peacefully work on his paintings. Soon, however, Quinten is haunted by nightmares of horrible events including adultery and witchery that took place amongst his ancestors in the house 200 years ago. Particularly the spirit of Aunt Angelique, who was hung up high in a tree, attempts to invade Quinten's mind and revive her former lover. As it is one of his trademarks, in "Night of Dark Shadows" Dan Curtis once again makes excellent use of the ominous locations and set-pieces. Certain sequences, especially the nightmares/flashbacks, are very atmospheric and unsettling. On the other hand, though, the plot is sadly derivative and predictable. Family feuds, executed witches, ghostly apparitions, reincarnations How many times haven't we seen this already? The film also contains too little action and often gets way too talkative. Grayson Hall's entire role, for example, adds almost nothing to the story and all she ever does is talk, talk, talk. Instead of focusing so much on her, Lara Parker should have been give more screen time. Her portrayal of great-auntie Angelique the witch is truly sensual and seductive. Many fans, notably the avid "Dark Shadows" followers, claim that production company MGM practically ruined this film because they instructed Dan Curtis to cut nearly 40 minutes out of the final film. Perhaps the full version provides more insights on certain plot aspects, but "Night of Dark Shadows" is already somewhat dull at 95 minutes, so personally I'm really not to keen on watching a 129 minutes director's cut.
David Selby – also known from the landmark TV-series – replaces Jonathan Frid as the lead star of this installment. In present day Maine, he portrays another descendant of the infamous Collins clan, Quinten. He moves into the family home Collinwood with his amiable wife Tracy and hopes to quietly and peacefully work on his paintings. Soon, however, Quinten is haunted by nightmares of horrible events including adultery and witchery that took place amongst his ancestors in the house 200 years ago. Particularly the spirit of Aunt Angelique, who was hung up high in a tree, attempts to invade Quinten's mind and revive her former lover. As it is one of his trademarks, in "Night of Dark Shadows" Dan Curtis once again makes excellent use of the ominous locations and set-pieces. Certain sequences, especially the nightmares/flashbacks, are very atmospheric and unsettling. On the other hand, though, the plot is sadly derivative and predictable. Family feuds, executed witches, ghostly apparitions, reincarnations How many times haven't we seen this already? The film also contains too little action and often gets way too talkative. Grayson Hall's entire role, for example, adds almost nothing to the story and all she ever does is talk, talk, talk. Instead of focusing so much on her, Lara Parker should have been give more screen time. Her portrayal of great-auntie Angelique the witch is truly sensual and seductive. Many fans, notably the avid "Dark Shadows" followers, claim that production company MGM practically ruined this film because they instructed Dan Curtis to cut nearly 40 minutes out of the final film. Perhaps the full version provides more insights on certain plot aspects, but "Night of Dark Shadows" is already somewhat dull at 95 minutes, so personally I'm really not to keen on watching a 129 minutes director's cut.