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House of Dark Shadows

  • 19701970
  • GPGP
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
3K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
House of Dark Shadows (1970)
Vampire Barnabas Collins is accidentally released from his centuries-long confinement at his family's estate in Maine. He targets his clueless descendants who live there now and pursues Maggie, the incarnation of his lost love.
Play trailer2:42
1 Video
62 Photos
  • Drama
  • Fantasy
  • Horror
Vampire Barnabas Collins is accidentally released from his centuries-long confinement at his family's estate in Maine. He targets his clueless descendants who live there now and pursues Magg... Read allVampire Barnabas Collins is accidentally released from his centuries-long confinement at his family's estate in Maine. He targets his clueless descendants who live there now and pursues Maggie, the incarnation of his lost love.Vampire Barnabas Collins is accidentally released from his centuries-long confinement at his family's estate in Maine. He targets his clueless descendants who live there now and pursues Maggie, the incarnation of his lost love.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Dan Curtis
  • Writers
    • Sam Hall(screenplay)
    • Gordon Russell(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jonathan Frid
    • Grayson Hall
    • Kathryn Leigh Scott
Top credits
  • Director
    • Dan Curtis
  • Writers
    • Sam Hall(screenplay)
    • Gordon Russell(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jonathan Frid
    • Grayson Hall
    • Kathryn Leigh Scott
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 66User reviews
    • 47Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:42
    Official Trailer

    Photos62

    House of Dark Shadows (1970)
    House of Dark Shadows (1970)
    House of Dark Shadows (1970)
    Grayson Hall in House of Dark Shadows (1970)
    Joan Bennett in House of Dark Shadows (1970)
    Nancy Barrett in House of Dark Shadows (1970)
    Nancy Barrett in House of Dark Shadows (1970)
    Nancy Barrett in House of Dark Shadows (1970)
    Roger Davis and Kathryn Leigh Scott in House of Dark Shadows (1970)
    Nancy Barrett in House of Dark Shadows (1970)
    Thayer David in House of Dark Shadows (1970)
    Nancy Barrett in House of Dark Shadows (1970)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jonathan Frid
    Jonathan Frid
    • Barnabas Collinsas Barnabas Collins
    Grayson Hall
    Grayson Hall
    • Dr. Julia Hoffmanas Dr. Julia Hoffman
    Kathryn Leigh Scott
    Kathryn Leigh Scott
    • Maggie Evansas Maggie Evans
    Roger Davis
    Roger Davis
    • Jeff Clarkas Jeff Clark
    Nancy Barrett
    Nancy Barrett
    • Carolyn Stoddardas Carolyn Stoddard
    John Karlen
    John Karlen
    • Willie Loomisas Willie Loomis
    Thayer David
    Thayer David
    • Professor T. Eliot Stokesas Professor T. Eliot Stokes
    Louis Edmonds
    Louis Edmonds
    • Roger Collinsas Roger Collins
    Don Briscoe
    • Todd Blakeas Todd Blake
    • (as Donald Briscoe)
    David Henesy
    David Henesy
    • David Collinsas David Collins
    Dennis Patrick
    Dennis Patrick
    • Sheriff George Pattersonas Sheriff George Patterson
    Lisa Blake Richards
    Lisa Blake Richards
    • Daphne Buddas Daphne Budd
    • (as Lisa Richards)
    Jerry Lacy
    Jerry Lacy
    • Ministeras Minister
    Barbara Cason
    Barbara Cason
    • Mrs. Johnsonas Mrs. Johnson
    Paul Michael
    • Old Manas Old Man
    Humbert Allen Astredo
    Humbert Allen Astredo
    • Dr. Forbesas Dr. Forbes
    • (as Humbert Astredo)
    Terrayne Crawford
    • Todd's Nurseas Todd's Nurse
    • (as Terry Crawford)
    Michael Stroka
    Michael Stroka
    • Pallbeareras Pallbearer
    • Director
      • Dan Curtis
    • Writers
      • Sam Hall(screenplay)
      • Gordon Russell(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Collinwood scenes were filmed at the Lyndhurst Estate in Tarrytown, New York. The Lyndhurst Estate also housed Spratt Mansion, which had been used as the exterior of the "Old House" on the series, but was destroyed by a fire the year before "House of Dark Shadows" was shot.
    • Goofs
      When Barnabas reaches for the handle of Daphne's car door, and when soon after when he stalks Maggie in the Old House, he is wearing the same period garb as when released from his coffin, as well as an ankle-length cloak. But when stalking Daphne in the woods prior to attacking, he's clearly wearing contemporary shoes and pants, and a much shorter cloak.
    • Quotes

      Carolyn Stoddard: I'm beginning to wonder, cousin Barnabas, if I shall ever know you at all. There's so much about you... that I'm dying to know.

    • Crazy credits
      SPOILER: There is a scene during the closing credits: Barnabas turns into a bat and flies away.
    • Alternate versions
      The preview version of the film included a scene where young David Collins pretends to hang himself. No copies of this footage are known to exist.
    • Connections
      Featured in Elvira's Movie Macabre: House of Dark Shadows (1985)

    User reviews66

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    By far the best of the Dark Shadows films
    'Dark Shadows' is one of those shows that wholly deserves its popularity and its reputation as a classic. There are a few films based on it, and while they're all watchable in varying ways quality-wise they're mixed.

    By far the best of them is this, 'House of Dark Shadows'. To me also, it's the only film to be as good as the show, not quite on the same level but almost as good. Its only real problems are some characters not given enough screen time or development, especially Elizabeth and Maggie, and Joan Bennett being very underused as Elizabeth that she doesn't shine anywhere near as much as in the show.

    'House of Dark Shadows' however is visually an improvement over the show's production values, with the exception of a couple of goofs and bloopers which didn't hurt the film at all. The production and costume design are lavish and splendidly Gothic, and it's all photographed stunningly and boasts some surprisingly good special effects. The music is suitably moody, and evokes a real eeriness.

    The script has a good balance of the funny and the tense, and the story is never dull, is always fun and has some real nerve-shredding tension and bone-chilling shock. The highlight was the somewhat poetic ending, which is also a masterclass in sheer galvanising horror and incredible Gothic imagery. There is a good deal of gore, but it's used chillingly and is never overused or gratuitous. Dan Curtis directs beautifully and intelligently, never once undermining the tension, suspense or horror and doesn't make the mistakes of not having enough of either or over-crowding the film with them.

    Most of the characters are interesting, particularly Barnabas and Julia, and the wonderful chemistry between the actors in the show translates every bit as wonderfully here. The acting is uniformly good, with only Bennett not shining as much as she could have done due to being so underused. Jonathan Frid is terrifyingly magnetic, while Grayson Hall, Thayer David and Nancy Barrett are particularly strong in support.

    All in all, by far the best of the 'Dark Shadows' films and the only one to be as good as the show. 8/10 Bethany Cox
    helpful•4
    0
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Jun 5, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 6, 1971 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Dark Shadows
    • Filming locations
      • Three Bears' Inn - 333 Wilton Rd., Westport, Connecticut, USA
    • Production company
      • Dan Curtis Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $750,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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