Because I am enjoying my recent DS video fests (I rewatched most of the Angelique/Barnabas/Josette triangle from 1795 on dvd for the first time in years), and because a friend of mine recently made an interesting acquisition with regards to the second DS film, I decided to pop in "Night of Dark Shadows" and watch it after many years.

I was struck by how some of the scenes were genuinely eerie, and evoked that shuddery feeling of creeping horror that I don't feel very often while watching so-called "scary" movies.  I think part of the charm of the film (despite its horrendous cuts) lies in the acting of the principals, namely Kate Jackson (who is really very good, and manages to rise above the ingenue status in a way that I never felt KLS or Alexandra Moltke did) and David Selby (sexy as hell; love the mop-top hair, and those eyes ...!)  John Karlen does a particularly good turn as Alex, and I love how he hisses on and on about that "son of a bitch" Gerard.  (James Storm, meanwhile, irritates me ceaselessly.)  Chris Pennock enjoys his little screen time, and seems more comfortable on the big screen than he ever did on the afternoon DS; his chewing of the scenery seems slightly more honed.

I am also enamored with the music of this film, particularly Quentin and Tracy's love theme.  Played on the piano, it's both lovely and haunting at the same time.

I'm going to have to pull out my old DS movie book and re-read the script of NODS just so I can get a proper feel of it, and mourn the passing of those cut scenes, which, if poor Darren is correct in his recent posting, may never see the light of day.  (Darren, I've been following your crusade for this film since Video Watchdog published your article about the DS films in the fall of 1997, and I hope that someday your valor and your more-than-strenuous heroics will pay off.)

My roomate, who has now watched the entire '91 series with me and a few eps from Leviathan and 1968, can't wait, he says, to watch HODS, if only to watch the majority of the cast bite it in various ways (if you'll pardon the expression.)

Nicky

Hey guys,

Now, I've been watching this show for over a decade, and you'd think that I'd notice something like this, but you know ... forest from the trees ...

So, I'm watching my DS Dvds (set 5, I believe ... the one that covers the most gripping moments of the "Angelique will be mistress of Collinwood over everyone else' dead bodies" story), and I notice, near the beginning, that Josette's portrait is hanging in her bedroom in the Old House.

Huh, I thought to myself.  Didn't Barnabas special order that and then hung it over the mantel in the Old House, pissing new wifey Angelique off royally just before he shot her?  So I watched that ep (classic, classic), and .... sho nuff!

So what gives?  'Cuz a few episodes after I noticed that Josette's portrait was in her bedroom ... it was gone!!!  I've never heard this "blooper" mentioned before ... or am I just nuts?  I put this before y'all ... has anyone else ever noticed this?

Inquiring minds,

Nicky (who hopes to be Nicky when he posts this)

Wow! It's been awhile since I did one of these, but you dragged me out, Midnite, go'blessya.  I've been on the "Yay Leviathan" bandwagon with Steve for nearly seven years (oh yes, kiddies, I've been around these forums for a long, long time), so I think this should be fun to do.


Most welcome character (the one you were happiest to see)?  Angelique Rumson!


Your favorite character in Leviathans, period.  See above.

Favorite duo (non-romantic)?  Chris Jennings and Julia Hoffman.

Favorite romantic pairing?  Chris Jennings and Quentin Collins.  No, just kidding.  Um ... Maggie and Quentin, post love spell.  Doesn't really make sense, and they never really elaborated on it again after using it as a plot device to have Amy find out that Maggie is a spy and to later use her to help find Quentin ... well, never mind.  I guess they did use it after all.  Huh.

Favorite minor character?  Mr. Best!

Most irritating character?  Awexandah.  Or maybe Michael.  Or maybe Jeb!

Scene(s) you can watch over and over and over and...?  The entire episode where Angelique runs from Sky's torch (!), flies back to Collinwood, spars with Quentin, taunts Sky, begs for Barnabas' reconciliation, finds him with Maggie, and calls on the Powers of Darkness to put the love whammy on Maggie and Quentin.  Plus it was cool to see that pitchfork again that hadn't made its appearance since 1795.

Most wasted opportunity?  Making Barnabas a true agent of the Leviathans, or at least making his break away from them more believable.  Maybe if he'd been seduced by them or something ... but nope, it's always gotta be about possession with these people.

Best plot twist?  Sky as Leviathan bad guy.

Creepiest moment or event?  The dead sheriff (who's first name, apparently, was "Sheriff") getting noshed on by the werewolf.  I mean, ew.  Really.

Which scene had you yelling at your TV screen the loudest?  Barnabas' dastardly treatment of loyal to a fault Julia.

What moment made you cheer the loudest?  When Angelique used her little statue thingie to throttle Sky into subservience.

Moment in which you most wondered, "What were the writers smoking?"  Sombrero ghost?

Event or revelation that made you ask, "What were the writers smoking?"  Jeb killed Victoria Winters?  Whahfuh?

Favorite quote?  "At the risk of sounding ... banal ... it's a small world, isn't it?"

Favorite prop?  The floppy bat versus Angelique's strangley statue thingie, the one she "casually mentioned liking" to Sky, the big dope.

Favorite special effect?  The green light that always appears in the corner when Angelique materializes (love how she steps out of corners.)

Least favorite special effect?  The shadow.  Oy, the shadow (and we haven't seen the last of it yet, kids, so don't relax just yet!)

Favorite outfit?  Angelique's blue dress she wears to Collinwood, replete with matching leopard print coat.  Watch thoses hips sway-sway-sway!

Ugliest outfit?  Angelique's pink dress.  I'm pretty sure there was a pink dress.  There should NEVER be pink dresses.

Stupidest continuity error (the most horrendous job of retconning in this storyline)?  I think Barnabas is trying to justify to Angelique why she should give up her plot to kill Jeb, and he says it's because he told her about Sky.  Um ... nope, sorry Big B, that was you.

What scene had you closest to tears (because it was so touching)?  Angelique's return to Collinwood.  "I lived her ... loved here ... for a time I was very happy.  This is where it all started, Quentin."

What scene had you closest to tears (from laughing)?  I liked the photo of Paul Stoddard in the coffin.  But like I said, the revelation that Sheriff Davenport's first name is "Sheriff" makes me giggly.

Moment or event that made your jaw drop the farthest?  Nicholas' ghost sitting up out of Nicholas' body.  I thought something cooler could've happened, like maybe his big giant floaty head.

What nagging question were you left with?  (Uh, try to narrow it down, please. )  How many ways are there to kill a Leviathan?  (And what did they put in Bruno's hair???)

Finally, what was your reaction to the storyline the very first time you watched it?  I watched it while painting the interior of my parents' house in the summer of '94 (I was fifteen).  I adored it.  I loved the costumes, the colors, and the fact that there were so many monsters ... we had the werewolf, we had the moon poppy, we had Angelique (looking fantastic everytime we saw her, 'cept for this unfortunate weird braid wrapping thing ... Steve knows what I'm talking about), we had Barnabas the re-re-revampire, we had Audrey, we had goofy weird breathing rhino radiator things, we had ghosts and warlocks and Nelle Gunston with her l'il knife ... I mean, c'mon guys, we had it ALL!  Plus Liz Stoddard tried to kill people.  You can't ask for more than that.

Nicky

Greetings, fellow Shadow fans!

Chapter 68 of our ongoing round robin "Shadows on the Wall" has been posted at the archive hosted by that master of mischief, Tim Choate.  This go around is written by the delectable NancyBe, and this is what's about to go down:

Barnabas isn't doing so hot, so Julia prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice; Nicholas calls on an old friend to collect a favor; Angelique realizes that her life as a happy homemaker might all be a pipe dream; Professor Stokes gets called off the bench by an unknown demonic force; Vicki is forced to hide her true feeling from Quentin because the darkness inside her is growing ... and threatens everyone around her.

Check it out hereish:

http://members.tripod.com/~MrJuggins/shadows/wall.htm

Hey gang,

Chapter 67 of our ongoing round robin, "Shadows on the Wall", has been posted by the lovely Luciaphil.

This time, much hijinks ensue when Julia pressures a reluctant Vicki to use her powers to drive a demon from Carolyn; Roger gives into the voices in his head and indulges in a little petty larceny; Nicholas gains insight into how Elizabeth's mind works when they both discover a very inconvenient body.

Check it out here, at our archive hosted by the incomparable Tim Choate:

http://members.tripod.com/~MrJuggins/shadows/wall.htm

ooo willow would give angelique a run for her money i think.

That's what I think.  Black-Eyed Willow would give Angeliuqe a disinterested glance, murmur, "Bored now," and zap her into another hell dimension.

But think of the horrors they could conceive if they just worked together ...

Nicky

That's beautiful.

Nicky

Greetings and salutations,

Chapter 65 of "Shadows on the Wall", our ongoing round robin hosted by the delectable Tim Choate, has been posted.  

Written by Midnite, we find ourselves back in 1968, now free of Petofi's influence ... or is it?  Vicki's been having nightmares, Julia's been having nightmares, Chris has been having nightmares ... the present, it seems, is one big bad dream.  Coupled with a new arrival from the past and an 18th century French murderess consumed with bloodlust, Colllinwood could soon find its walls streaked with red.  

Find it here:

http://members.tripod.com/~MrJuggins/shadows/wall.htm