|
 In
its current state, Night of
Dark Shadows is a film that
demands apologies from its fans. For anyone aware of its ludicrous
11th hour recutting and lost storyline, the knee-jerk response is
to look upon it with pity, mumbling explanations and sympathy to
any onlookers. For Dark Shadows
fans, the film was initially an embarrassment, a slipshod mess overlooked
in favour of its less mutilated sibling House
of Dark Shadows: As the reasons
for its incoherence became more commonly known, fans learned to
enjoy it for what it might have been: Finally, with the publication
of its complete scripts, they learned to apologise for it blindly,
to such an extent that they often fail to acknowledge anything of
value in the existing version, which is a great pity.
Sad and lopsided
as it plays, shorn of a conclusion, with exposition torn away in
jagged strips, Night of Dark
Shadows astonishingly still
contains a quality that begs to be enjoyed. Boasting a more polished
production than the previous film, it seizes upon the first film's
strengths in style and narrative, honing them for marriage with
a far superior script and markedly more mature style. Whereas House
of Dark Shadows replays as
a succession of loud shouting set pieces, Night
utilises its creative peaks to punctuate a highly charged and atmospheric
narrative, which is eloquently conveyed throughout by the cast,
dialogue and production.
Weaving deftly through classic literary archetypes and familiar
Dark Shadows
storylines, the script impresses throughout, with its wistful themes
of eternal love and ghostly reincarnation, along with a deeply human
side that inspires sympathy. Ironically, while shunning many of
the traditional horror images of its predecessor, it manages to
emerge as a deeply satisfying distillation of the gothic genre,
though with a distinctly modern sense of plotting. Unlike the simplistic
elemental notions of evil in House
of Dark Shadows, all the
characters of Night of Dark
Shadows firmly etched in
shades of grey.
Seizing upon the television show's fondness for nightmare sequences,
the film offers numerous dark tableaux, each cut down to starkly
memorable images, uniquely memorable in their individual ways. The
film also introduces sex to the world of Dark
Shadows, which may offend
purists. However, it manages to treat these themes with a maturity
that justifies their inclusion. In this Collinwood, rape and violence
are equal evils to its supernatural forces.
The cast acquit themselves admirably throughout, with David Selby
carrying the central role deftly. Grayson Hall's housekeeper
Carlotta Drake excels through her restraint. Her lingering presence
dominates each of her scenes, icy and piercing throughout. Lara
Parker's statuesque countenance compliments the ghostly Angélique
perfectly, with a minimal approach making the most of her limited
role.
Dan Curtis' direction is light-years away from the more juvenile
approach displayed in the previous year's House
of Dark Shadows. Presented
with a script that resists overstatement, he uses a minimal approach
which allows the actors to shine, composing the action in starkly
poetic vignettes. Where the direction displayed in House
is frequently frantic to the point of incoherence, Night
is considered throughout, with every angle and cut appropriately
chosen. This makes the fact that Night
should have befallen such an aggressive re-cut especially tragic,
as Sam Hall's script and Curtis' treatment lack any slack
areas. Each line of dialogue within each scene actively works to
advance the storyline and characters. Apparently incidental details
such as Gerard laying bricks in an early scene foreshadow later
developments, creating an organic storyline that is almost poetic
in its development and resolution.
Wrapped up neatly with a satisfying twist that subverts the traditional
gothic themes, Night of Dark
Shadows remains an effective
shocker even in partial form, with much to recommend. It is entirely
adult in its mood, beautifully produced, and flawlessly executed.
Even in a heavily truncated form, Night
of Dark Shadows does not
fail to assert itself as the superior Dark
Shadows film.
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Original Content and Design ©
Copyright Stuart
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