Since the end of the original Dark Shadows in 1971, which I had lost sight of it because it aired amid the civil rights movement and life carried my interests elsewhere’s, there has been at least two short-lived revival series and three movies. To many viewers the two revival series are mostly unknown outside of the Dark Shadows fan base, and more recently the Tim Burton 2012 fantasy movie that I avoided. My avoidance of the film was not because I thought the movie would not be good, but because there are elements in the original series that cannot be so easily duplicated, like the dark and shroud-like gaslight menacing atmosphere seen in many of the late 50s, 60s and early 70s horror films. That these elements and Dark Shadows very air of terror, suspense and ghastly romances in a first daytime horror series made me and millions of other teenagers flock to our television set to watch the series directly after school made it that more special.
Can “Dark Shadows: Reincarnation” top this without being over sexed and overly soaked in gore?
The original Dark Shadows had it all, vampires, ghosts, ghouls, werewolves, a Frankenstein-like monster and his reluctant and evil bride. There was also a twisted mommy dearest phoenix as well as zombies, which just killed you and did not eat your flesh. Not that the revival series and its movies lack these characters, there simply was a magic within the original series that made it a cult favorite even to this day. One could also watch as the actors portrayed different characters in the past and parallel realities, and for a short time have you believing in them. For more than a half century the series is still in syndication on streaming channels, and for being the truly first horror daytime soap opera it is still seen as a super achievement. One could also state that Dark Shadows was the unofficial founder of daytime soaps mega fan conventions.
There were others daytime series that attempted to bathe in the glow that was Dark Shadows fame, but they were short lived and not as thrilling, Santa Barbara’ was one and ‘One Life to Live’ was the other. For creator Dan Curtis Dark Shadows was a golden calf, a golden fleece, a jumping point in which his dark creative energies road successfully for decades.
Although was stated repeatedly that Dark Shadows was not a vampire series, the moment Jonathan Frid stepped into the spotlight as the vampire Barnabas Collins there no question about the fact that Frid’s portrayal of Barnabas was the series glue and unfortunately with his departure its undoing.
Will “Dark Shadows: Reincarnation” stand up to viewers expectation without a strong vampire lead or theme?
Now it is 2023, some 57 years since the original series and Mark B. Perry is attempting to revive the magic and the horror of Dark Shadows. Reportedly, Perry’s “Dark Shadows: Reincarnation will follow the original series, but with new storylines. This being stated, Perry intended revision of the original Dark Shadows will be a more in-depth and less censored than in the past. For these reasons, old and new viewers will be able to stream the series on a yet to disclose streaming channel.
On this final note, it will be thrilling to discover which actors will portray the leading characters.
Stay tuned.
Related:
Trivia: Jonathan Frid carried the wolf head cane from the series throughout his remaining days.
Dark Shadows and Beyond — The Jonathan Frid Story
A Widescreen Online Review Plus Article
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