Movie-a-Day Challenge: Dark Shadows – The Haunting of Collinwood

Dark Shadows movie imageThis post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 143! You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE. Hey everyone!

So today we have a blast from the past! Remember Dark Shadows, that gothic soap opera that creeped us all out (and maybe secretly thrilled us) as kids? Yeah, well, this past weekend I decided to take a trip down memory lane and revisit a truly bizarre relic of television history: Dark Shadows: The Haunting of Collinwood. I found it on Hoopla, by the way (Hoopla is free through your library system), if you’re feeling adventurous (or have a serious case of insomnia).

Now, for those who weren’t glued to the TV in the late 60s/early 70s, Dark Shadows was this wild ride of a show. It had everything: a brooding vampire named Barnabas Collins (played by the iconic Jonathan Frid with his deliciously dramatic flair), a sprawling, dusty mansion with more secrets than a locked attic, werewolves, witches and enough family drama to fuel a Shakespearean play. Think “Downton Abbey” meets “The Addams Family” with a healthy dose of the supernatural thrown in for good measure.

Oh, the nostalgia hit me hard, folks. This was a childhood favorite of mine — I used to watch the “Dark Shadows” series every single day after school as a kid, so you can imagine the whirlwind of emotions I felt diving back into this eerie universe.

Now, full disclosure, this technicolor gothic nightmare wasn’t originally intended to be a movie. Rather, it’s basically a Frankenstein’s monster cobbled together from like 50 plus episodes of the original series, all edited down into a glorious (and gloriously long) 3-and-a-half-hour mess. It’s more like a highlight reel of the whole “Quentin Collins haunting Collinwood” storyline, jammed into one supersized serving.

Speaking of Quentin, that’s where things get weird. Apparently, Barnabas Collins (Dark Shadows vampire played by the endlessly quotable Jonathan Frid) isn’t even a vampire in this flick! Whaaaaat? I mean, the dude is straight-up strolling around in broad daylight like it ain’t no thing. Maybe they just ran out of fake fangs that day?

But let’s get into the thick of it, shall we? The plot itself is pure gothic soap opera gold. We’ve got the creepy ghost of Quentin Collins (played by the fantastic David Selby) who hightailed it out of the 1800s to haunt the ever-lovin’ heck out of Collinwood mansion. His favorite targets? Two innocent children, of course!

Much shrieking, fainting, and dramatic pronouncements ensue as young David Collins and Amy Jennings get possessed by Quentin’s vengeful spirit. The poor kids are caught in his spectral shenanigans, leading to an edge-of-your-seat exorcism attempt. Honestly, the whole scenario is peak haunted house drama, with the Collins family literally contemplating packing their bags and leaving their ancient, ghost-ridden home home to escape the chaos. Talk about family drama, right?

The atmosphere of “The Haunting of Collinwood” is something I’ve got to talk about. It’s got that deliciously gothic vibe that’s so thick you could cut it with a knife. The shadows, the suspenseful music, the slightly over-the-top but oh-so-perfect dramatics – it’s like they bottled the essence of a stormy night and poured it all over this film.

Let’s talk about the acting for a sec, because that’s half the fun (or maybe the entire fun?) of this cinematic oddity. It’s like watching a high school play gone wild. The melodrama is cranked up to eleven. Lines are flubbed with glorious regularity, characters emote like they’re auditioning for a Shakespearean play in zero gravity, and there’s a truly impressive number of random cameramen sprinting across the scene. There’s even a boom mic that makes a surprise cameos every now and then. Honestly, these bloopers are like sprinkles on a cupcake – they just make the whole thing even more delightful. It’s all part of the charm. It’s so bad, it’s actually amazing.

Plus these actors knew how to deliver a line with a wink and a raised eyebrow, perfectly capturing the show’s over-the-top melodrama. There’s a glorious lack of subtlety that just makes you laugh, even as you’re peeking through your fingers during the particularly chilling scenes.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t this just a cheesy mess?” Well, you’re not wrong. But that’s kinda the beauty of Dark Shadows: The Haunting of Collinwood. It’s SO bad, it circles back around to being good. It’s like a train wreck you just can’t look away from.

But to me, “Dark Shadows: The Haunting of Collinwood” is more than just a movie; it’s a piece of my childhood, a reminder of those carefree days spent in front of the TV, wide-eyed and utterly enchanted (and perhaps a tad frightened).

So, is “Dark Shadows: The Haunting of Collinwood” a cinematic masterpiece? Oh, hell no! But is it a fun, spooky romp through a world of gothic chills and melodramatic family secrets? Absolutely! It’s perfect for anyone who ever loved the original series, or who just enjoys a good dose of campy horror. Just be prepared for some serious cheese, some truly epic flubs, and a whole lot of gothic fun.

Until tomorrow, stay spooky and maybe brush up on your knowledge of 18th-century curses – you never know when it might come in handy .

Happy haunting 👻
Roger

PS: Fun fact — Did you know that the “Dark Shadows” series was initially not a supernatural show? It only took a dive into the occult after its first year (when they introduced Barnabas, the vampire), which, let’s be honest, was the best decision ever. It’s like they found the secret sauce to captivating audiences, and boy, did they pour it on thick!

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