Dark Shadows - Collection 9 (DVD, 2003, 4-Disc Set)

DARK SHADOWS...I still remember as a ten year old boy rushing home from school as quickly as I could to return to the shadows...DARK SHADOWS. Every afternoon at 4pm the shadows of Collinwood crept into the living rooms of America...and were filled with vampires, ghosts, werewolves, time travel and wonderful mystery. Today, as DARK SHADOWS nears its 40th anniversary, it continues to have a huge cult following.

Now released to DVD with 40 episodes per set, DARK SHADOWS is the most extensive DVD series ever compiled, with over 300,000 box sets sold. Only one set remains to be released, with 24 sets currently available. The incredible popularity of this classic show is a testimony to the vision of its groundbreaking producer, the legendary Dan Curtis.

In addition to DARK SHADOWS, Dan produced two of the most ambitious mini-series ever brought to television: THE WINDS OF WAR and WAR AND REMEMBRANCE. He produced many other highly successful TV and film productions, including the hugely popular KOLCHAK movies, BURNT OFFERINGS, HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS, NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS, DRACULA with Jack Palance, the 1991 DARK SHADOWS REVIVAL SERIES, TRILOGY OF TERROR, and many others. Most recently in 2005, Dan produced SAVING MILLY and OUR FATHERS.

Dan Curtis, lost his battle with brain cancer on March 27th, 2006, at his home in Brentwood California. Only three weeks before, Dan lost his wife of 54 years, Norma, to a heart attack.

We focus the Movie Magic USA spotlight on honoring Dan Curtis by reviewing DARK SHADOWS COLLECTION 9. My favorite part of Dark Shadows was when the focus was on Barnabas as a vampire, and the conflict with Angelique. Although I thought the dream curse storyline never really went anywhere, this is overall one of the best periods in the series.

As a ten year old, I could not wait for the next episode of DARK SHADOWS each weekday afternoon. As a 48 year old man, I can't wait to put the disc in my DVD player and return to the shadows of Collinwood. I am currently watching Set 17, episode 877. It is because of a hard-charging television pioneer named Dan Curtis that I still look forward, 39 years later, to returning to Collinwood for my daily dose of vampires, werewolves and fog-shrouded mystery. DARK SHADOWS is a one of a kind classic never to be duplicated, and so is its producer. He took us into the shadows of Collinwood, and we will never forget the wonder that awaited us there.

God Bless you Dan and Norma.

Steven Holt

Movie Magic USA

The Dream Curse is now entering its final stages. Victoria Winters is in danger, and Barnabus forces her to reveal her nightmare to him. This threatens to make Barnabus once again a vampire.
Adam kidnaps Victoria Winters in an attempt to force Barnabus and Julia to create his mate for him.
Nicholas Blair surprises us by falling in love with Maggie Evans.
Nicholas orders Angelique to put the vampire curse on Barnabus Collins.
Maggie Evans boyfriend in turn falls victim to the vampire curse of Angelique. This is destroying their relationship, just in time for Nicholas to step in. A new character, "Tom Jennings" steps into the episode. He is a handy-man who becomes a vampire at the hands of Angelique. Then , he in turn puts the bite on Julia Hoffman. She comes under his spell. Barnabus catchs on pretty quickly, taking off Julia's scarf against her will, and revealing bite marks.
I loved the interviews with Alexandra Moltke, Johnathan Frid, Lara Parker, and Robert Rodan.

Cult classic gothic soap opera from 1960's. Addictive series to watch, with all those great neurotic vampires. In this 4 disc set - the end of Angelique's dream curse, Adam kidnaps Vickie, Julia gets bitten by a vampire, Elizabeth escapes from Wyndclyffe, Julia and Barnabas are forced to start creating a mate for Adam.

I loved the dark shadow's collection 9. It's in great color,lot's of scary plots. Brings back alot of old memories. I buy a new collection every month. It maybe about a vampire,witches.werewolves etc.But it's clean enough that everyone can wacth it. I wish it still came on. I wacth it every night for around two hours. I hope I will be able to get the whole series. I also love the way it's put on dvd's. It's just a great gothic soap opera.

This dvd collection in the continuing series of dark shadows was excellent. It continued the story and set off in new directions. Highly recommended for dark Shadows followers.