Contrary to what most 13 year old girls believe, pasty, sexy scheming vampires were NOT invented in the past decade... they've been around since the 70's TV series Dark Shadows. The series debuted when I was in grade school, and thankfully I was graced with parents that plopped me down in front of my favorite babysitter: The magical, mystical box called Television.

Dark Shadows, featuring the pasty, chick-magnet known as Barnabas Collins (played by the great Jonathan Frid), was actually a daytime soap opera that just happened to be on right after school. So, while other, more innocent children in my neighborhood were watching ClubHouse 22, or Casey Jones, or Electric Company, I was watching the steamy, sultry Collinwood residents get it on supernaturally (which may explain a few things, now...). I would race home from school, tear through the door, and knee-slide across the hard-wood floors of our townhouse to flip the switch on our giant (22 inch) console-TV. I even held Dark Shadows viewing parties, serving orange soda and pizza, so I could addict my school chums. Although I only caught a year or two of the show, since it was a daily soap opera, I remember many of the story-lines.

I blame (credit?) this show for my modern-day fascination with all things supernatural. Much to my mother's dismay, I insisted on being Barnabas Collins for 3 Halloweens in a row. Vampires, zombies, werewolves, ghosts and witches were all represented in the show. Many shows in the past 30 years have tried to duplicate the formula (mostly in Britain), but none have had the success of the original. Much to my delight, the show returned for a brief run on NBC in 1991, but poor ratings bit it in the neck.

But just last night (March 15th), Warner Brothers released the trailer for the new movie starring Johnny Depp and directed by Tim Burton. If you're like me, you know that's a winning combination. Pretty much anything these two collaborate on turns to gold. I am a die hard fan and when I heard Burton was going to remake the film with Depp, I was thrilled. I was hoping for more of a 'Sleepy Hallow' take and one in keeping with the original series; dark, serious, scary and brooding. However, Burton has chosen to go the comedic direction with it, similar to Edward Scissorhands. I'm not sure how I feel about this, but the trailer sure has me smiling and laughing. The new version not only stars Depp, but Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter (of course), and Jackie Earle Haley.

DARK SHADOWS in theaters May 11, 2012.

So take a look and tell me what you think-


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