MovieChat Forums > Night of Dark Shadows (1971) Discussion > NODS always will be a muddled mess

NODS always will be a muddled mess

posted 13 years ago by inneroscator2
12 replies | jump to latest

M-G-M wanted a 2nd hit Dark Shadows movie then they should have gone for some kind of story that would have made sense to the fans...and that would have been a Barnabas/Angelique storyline. That idiot Curtis should have made this a direct sequel to the first film and have Angelique show up after the events on St. Eustice Island. That is what any sane DS fan would have insisted upon. Forget Quentin! Barnabas was and is and always will be the pivotal DS character.

[–] inneroscator2 13 years ago

I have no real problem with Quentin just so long as the character fulfills his proper function which is to back up Barnabas. Quentin was added because it was thought that Barnabas was beginning to wane in popularity when the problem was a muddled story arc. The writers should have kept their eyes on the bat after the 1795 storyline. Any schoolkid at the time could have told them that. The whole show was always Jonathan Frid's. After the 1795 flashback the writers took too much of an ensemble approach to DS. They should have kept their eye on the vampire.

[–] koppmeier_kevin 13 years ago

How would you have suggested they do a direct sequel? Jonathon Frid wanted no part of a second film.

[–] Falconeer 13 years ago

Not to mention, Barnabas Collins was destroyed at the end of the first film. how could they possibly explain his return??

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

[–] moosefeathers 13 years ago

You didn't watch HODS to the very end, eh sultan?

Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...

[–] Falconeer 13 years ago

I did watch House of Dark shadows to the end. Are you saying Barnabas Collins was not destroyed?? I remember him being killed, and that was the end..

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

[–] WinstonNephron 13 years ago

Moose is right - keep watching right through to the very end of the End Credits.

[–] Sandoz 13 years ago

Jesus, someone is actually claiming a vampire character is finished and can't be brought back for a sequel just because he was killed in a film? Hello?! Ever hear of Dracula? He's been "killed" six ways to sunday and a hundred times more and he still seems to keep on rising.

"Forget it, Jake....it's IMDb."

[–] zaphod08 13 years ago

As the movie ends, you can see a bat fly off. Clearly Barnabas was still alive, or undead or something or other.

In the kingdom of the blind, you're the village idiot.

[–] koppmeier_kevin 12 years ago

I am pretty sure Barnabas was destroyed at the end of the film. The bat was there to throw people off -- similar to the ending to the 1979 version of Dracula.

[–] Moon_and_New_York_City 11 years ago

I watched it last night (finally out on blu ray yay) and "muddled mess" is very good description of the third act at least. If MGM wanted a 90minute film, why not tell the director ahead of time ????

Still as a life long DS fan (PS the Johnny Depp Tim Burton version sucked!!), this film does havevsome merit:

Terrific Kate Jackson performance
Moody, atmospheric music score
Nice use of flashbacks
Genuine scary moments, and shocks

"the best that you can do is fall in love"

[–] ElectricWarlock 10 years ago

Yes, I agree with you. I know this isn't Dan Curtis's complete artistic vision the way it was meant to be seen, but I love it anyways. I think it's a great film all butchered up or otherwise.

I've been waiting for you, Ben.

[–] LaPfieffer92 10 years ago

what? I was extremely happy to see david Selby as Quentin. but cmon it was one or the other, barnabas AND Quentin would have been too much I think for a movie.

Realism, Remakes and Unnecessary Sequels are ruining movies!