House of Dark Shadows

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House of Dark Shadows

PG,

1970,

1h 38m,

Horror

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Watchlist

Watchlist

38%

8 Reviews

Tomatometer

70%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

38%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Imprisoned in a coffin for more than a hundred years, the vampire Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) is freed when a local drunk (John Karlen) discovers the Collins crypt and opens the coffin. Now free to roam the earth once more, Barnabas feasts on the blood of the living and obsesses over the family governess, Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott), who he believes is his lost love Josette reincarnated. This gothic drama is a theatrical retelling of the classic television show "Dark Shadows."

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Oct 23, 2004

2/4

Even in these troubled times, the vampire has it worse than most of us.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Aug 12, 2026

2/4

Most boob-tube trappings remain intact.

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

Oct 2, 2025

4/5

The poetic finale is a tour-de-force of superb gothic imagery and galvanising horror.

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Brian Holcomb

Kinetofilm

Feb 1, 2010

3/5

The film is well mounted and stylishly produced. In what must've seemed like a luxury, Jonathan Frid had time to learn ALL his lines.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Oct 21, 2006

C

It has the unique distinction of being the only motion picture ever based on a daytime soap opera.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Aug 16, 2005

2/5

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Luke L

Jan 17, 2019

House of Dark Shadows is a decent film. It is about vampire Barnabas Collins who is accidentally released from his centuries-long confinement at his family's estate in Maine. Jonathan Frid and Grayson Hall give okay performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Dan Curtis did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama and fantasy.

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Hermione P

Oct 29, 2017

This was horrible, and Im a latecomer fan of the daytime serial!

Draco M

Oct 28, 2017

The script was mediocre, but the idea was fantastic. The actors did well & the lighting/cinematography holds up well - with the exception of brief special effects. What a great location & sets as well.

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Dan Curtis

Director

Jonathan Frid

Barnabas Collins

Joan Bennett

Elizabeth Collins Stoddard

Grayson Hall

Dr. Julia Hoffman

Kathryn Leigh Scott

Maggie Evans

Roger Davis

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Synopsis

Imprisoned in a coffin for more than a hundred years, the vampire Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) is freed when a local drunk (John Karlen) discovers the Collins crypt and opens the coffin. Now free to roam the earth once more, Barnabas feasts on the blood of the living and obsesses over the family governess, Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott), who he believes is his lost love Josette reincarnated. This gothic drama is a theatrical retelling of the classic television show "Dark Shadows."

Director: Dan Curtis
Producer: Dan Curtis
Screenwriter: Gordon Russell, Sam Hall
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating: PG
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 28, 1970, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2008
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Mono

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