Dark Shadows is the proof that we have all "been there, done that" before. A collaboration between Tim Burton & Johnny Depp is becoming staple to the yearly blockbuster schedule, but it has never felt so tired as it does here.
The storyline is relatively simple at heart, where Depp's Barnabus Collins is cursed to become a Vampire and condemned to be be buried alive for two centuries. Upon returning he has to stop Eva Green's evil witch and return the Collins family to its former glory.
The problem lies that Dark Shadows is all over the place structurally. Not funny enough to win over the comedy fans, it also lacks character development to make you case about anyone. Even Depp's presence wains as Collins is nothing more than a lesser interpretation of every other Burton/Depp creation. He's not as screwed up as Sweeney Todd, he's not as creepy as The Mad Hatter, he's not as funny as Willy Wonka and he's not as loveable as Edward Scissorhands. What he is, sadly, is flat and forgettable.
The rest of the cast have little to do, but Eva Green pulls the movie out of the ground with a sexy, wickedly fun and wickedly wicked performance. She's the life and soul of the film, her confused, heart-broken and ruthless Angelique feels the most fresh and interesting. As a result, it's a shame we're supposed to root against her.
When all is said and done, and Dark Shadows slips away into distant memory it will find itself forgotten behind a long list of better Tim Burton films and much better Johnny Depp films. You can't help but hope that the pair push themselves for something more different and challenging the next time round.
4/10
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