Favorite Dark Shadows special effect

[FireRose]

My favorite special effect done on DS is the mirror at Nicholas Blair' s that he used to spy on everyone with.

That was a really cool effect.

I wonder how difficult that was to pull off for the special effects people?

FireRose

 

[stefan]

I can't think of a single special effect DS offered that made me look twice at it......still trying to think of one......

[FireRose]

I can't think of a single special effect DS offered that made me look twice at it......still trying to think of one......

Well this question has to be looked at in the time DS was filmed. The technology and budget for the show back then isn't what it would be if it were  being filmed today.

So you have to kind of forget about what can be done today with the special effects.

Which is hard to do I know.

But when you think about it DS was a pioneer in creating techniques to do effects that seemed impossible to do back then.

I read somewhere that some of the techniques used on DS is still in use today. Which is fasinating in of itself.

FireRose

[Raineypark]

I read somewhere that some of the techniques used on DS is still in use today. Which is fasinating in of itself.
FireRose

Really?  I can't imagine what techniques they could be talking about.

The difference between video production then and now is akin to the difference between Viking ships and space shuttles.  Back then they had to be creative (or at least try..... .  Today they just sit at a keyboard and get the computer to do it for them.

[PennyDreadful]

My favorite special effect done on DS is the mirror at Nicholas Blair' s that he used to spy on everyone with.

That was a really cool effect.

 That mirror was so magical, in fact, that it could even allow vampires to cast reflections (Angelique)! 

 One of my favorite effects on DS was a really early one -  Josette's ghost stepping out of the portrait and moving around the pillars outside the Old House.  That was an eerie scene, and the effects were well done, especially for an early episode.

~Penny Dreadful~

[Barnabas'sBride]

I also agree on Josette's ghost stepping out of the portrait. The black and white just added to the atmosphere.

[The Ghost of Sarah Collins]

My favorite special effect was the doppelganger of Angelique and Barnabas. watching as one Barnabas looked upon his double in the coffin with the stake in his chest was eerie...

I would have loved to had seen a storyline where Barnabas had a twin or a look alike cousin.
the Collins' did seem to resemble an ancestor from their past didn't they... why not have a modern Collins that resembled Barnabas?

[ClaudeNorth]

Another vote for Josette stepping out of her portrait in the Old House. 

[McTrooper]

Im not sure what my favorite effect was, but the fire burning effect is probably the most used / easy to remember.

It was a bit cheesy, but it did the trick.  Sometimes it worked very well.  Other times it didn't. 

[Sandor]

I always enjoyed the groovy kaleidoscope effect when someone was starting to have the Dream Curse. But once the dreamer started opening the doors (a la "Let's Make A Deal") it got a bit cheesey - especially that overused skull with the bulging eyes.

[michael c]

here's another vote for josette stepping out of her portait at the old house.that was when things really started to take-off on the show.

i also liked during the laura collins story when she was putting whatever it was that her spell was on people there was a sort of three layer affect going on:laura's eyes,flames and the person being put under the spell.plus the great music that went with it.

but i found the affects during the dream curse to be the most breath-takingly cheesy so far!

[Raineypark]

but i found the affects during the dream curse to be the most breath-takingly cheesy so far!

I think that award goes to Bat-On-A-String, hands down.....

[MsCriseyde]

I think Amanda Harris taking a dirt nap was pretty spectacular. 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

I think Amanda Harris taking a dirt nap was pretty spectacular.

Yes, there's nothing like peat moss and styrofoam bolders to rachet up the excitement. 

But seriously, all the blue screen effects DS used were ahead of their time.

[stefan]

here's another vote for josette stepping out of her portait at the old house.that was when things really started to take-off on the show.

This is the only special effect I would have liked to have seen but never saw. Maybe I'll get the tape. Sounds pretty cool. I also think DS should get lots of credit for achieving some very beautiful atmosphere without the aid of special effects and I liked that they use their creative noggins to work around this weakness.