Vampire themes in big movies stubbornly do not give up their positions. However, the mastodon of comic horror stories - director Tim Burton - refuses to follow the path laid by "stylish" youthful melodramatic sagas like "Twilight". He, following his mannered path, in 2012 creates a comedy fantasy "Dark Shadows", whose actors make up one of the most stellar ensembles. The project is intentionally old-fashioned, despite the active use of computer graphics. Nevertheless, it serves as brilliant proof that the vampire theme has not been exhausted, and in capable hands is capable of playing with, if not new, but definitely bright colors.
Worthy movie incarnation
Burton’s project “Gloomy Shadows” (2012) is based on the motives of an endless and careless eponymous sitcom that solemnly marched on American blue screens in the 1970s. The telesaga, stretching to 1225 episodes, captivated the audience with its atmosphere of romanticism and Gothic adventure. The hero Barnabas Collins appeared in the frame after 200 episodes. But the scriptwriter of the brainchild of Bertan, the playwright John August, who happened to adapt the main milestones of the television movie for a full-length restart, made him the central character. He already had to prescribe characters for the unsurpassed Johnny Depp in the film "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
Favorite Stage Director
Casting for the lead role was not even carried out while preparing for the filming of the film “Dark Shadows”. Johnny Depp was immediately approved as a central actor. This is the eighth film project in which the director and actor work together. They started in 1990 with the film "Edward Scissorhands", since then their creative union has become inseparable.
Currently, the actor is a nominee and owner of countless film awards and film awards. The world-famous role was brought to him by roles played in such projects of Tim Burton as “Eve Wood”, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, “Sleepy Hollow”, “Alice in Wonderland”. Also, the image of Captain Jack Sparrow in the franchise "Pirates of the Caribbean" is considered one of the most significant in the career of the performer.
No less significant pictures in the filmography of the actor are: “Donnie Brasco”, “Dead Man”, “Cocaine”, “Benny and June”, “Tourist”, “Gloomy Shadows”. Johnny Depp considers the peak of his acting skills to be a role in the criminal drama Black Mass, in which he managed to perfectly transform into the famous gangster James “Whitey” Bulger. Film critics call this role the best and most frightening of the actor’s entire creative career.
Beautiful and unhappy witch fantasy "Dark Shadows"
Eva Green, a French model, film and theater actress, played the role of a rejected witch, dominating the small town for more than two centuries and competing with the Collins family. Green began her career on the stage, her film debut took place in 2003 in the movie drama "Dreamers". The actress received worldwide popularity after she starred in the movie "Kingdom of Heaven" and the tape "Casino Royale". In the last picture, she played the role of another Bond passion. The actress gladly accepts invitations from independent directors, she can be seen in underground projects ("Womb", "Cracks", "Last Love on Earth").
Parade of Stars
A production of such a global scale could not do without the presence of the stars of the Dream Factory and world show business. In the film "Dark Shadows" actors of the first magnitude (Lara Parker, Catherine Leigh Scott, David Selby, Jonathan Fried) flashed in bright "cameos". The ageless Alice Cooper appeared in the frame, playing himself in his youth. Burton also presented a surprise to fans of the Elementary series. One of the roles of the foreground was played by the inimitable serial modern Sherlock Holmes - Johnny Lee Miller. The performer, known for the films “On the Needle” and “Hackers”, adorned the film “Dark Shadows” with his presence. Actors who played the roles of the second plan, nevertheless, faded next to the performers of the roles of female characters.
Female acting ensemble
All the actresses invited by the director were equally passionate and professional.
Upon learning about the preparation for the production of the film “Dark Shadows”, Michelle Pfeiffer immediately called Burton and asked for the role, since the original series is one of the actress's favorite television productions. Pfeiffer was approved for the role of the head of the withering ancient clan Collins. Three times the Academy Award nominee began her career with roles in minor films, her “Scarface” tape is considered her breakthrough. After that, she starred mainly in large Hollywood blockbusters, such as “Batman Returns”, “Dangerous Thoughts”, “Wolf” and “What Hides the Lie”.
Helena Bonham, the director’s wife, came to the casting of the film “Dark Shadows” (2012), wanted to get the role of the witch Angelica Boshar, but the creators had other kinds of her. The seven-time Oscar nominee received an equally brilliant and charismatic role as a psychiatrist lady, a lover of strong drinks. The British actress gained worldwide popularity after playing the roles of central characters in the film adaptations of the novels by E. M. Forster (Howards End, A Room with a View, etc.). After revealing the image of the Red Queen in “Alice in Wonderland,” Bonham was listed as the 50 sexiest movie star of all time.
Princess Gothic Tales
Bella Heathcote appeared in Burton’s project as a fragile governess weighed down by a secret of the past. The Australian actress became known to a wide audience by the films “Time” and “Dark Shadows”. Actors, colleagues in the workshop were perplexed why at one time she did not get the role of Carrie in "Telekinesis", Snow White in the movie "Snow White and the Hunter", because the actress has a great gift for reincarnation. More recently, Bella played in the film "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies."
The American actress and model Chloe Moretz appeared in the film in a rather characteristic and suitable role. Moretz played a little girl with the look and nature of a she-wolf. The first success came to Chloe after participating in the production of the remake of the canonical horror Amityville Horror, then roles in no less significant films, such as Kick pip 1,2, Let Me In, Time Keeper, Carrie, 5 -I am wave".