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Horror thriller

House of Dark Shadows (1970): Cast & Plot

House of Dark Shadows (1970) movie poster

House of Dark Shadows is a 1970 horror thriller directed by Dan Curtis, starring Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins, John Karlen and Joan Bennett. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes.

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House of Dark Shadows (1970) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 37m (97 min)
Director
Dan Curtis
Genres
Thriller , Horror , Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is House of Dark Shadows About?

The premise of House of Dark Shadows without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Come see how the vampires do it Barnabas Collins searches for a cure for vampirism in order to marry a woman resembling his long-lost fiancée Josette.

House of Dark Shadows Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • turning into a vampire
  • 1970s
  • psychotronic film
  • supernatural power
  • supernatural horror
  • murder of fiancee
  • hypnotized woman
  • vampire
  • love
  • blood
  • lost love
  • reincarnation
+38 more
  • maine
  • governess
  • estate
  • coffin
  • betrayal
  • gothic
  • cure
  • manhunt
  • posse
  • massacre
  • tavern
  • fiance fiancee relationship
  • cousin cousin relationship
  • male female relationship
  • incestuous desire
  • evil cousin
  • targeting one's family
  • crypt
  • shot in the back
  • woods
  • vampire bite
  • villain
  • vampire bat
  • turning into a bat
  • scorn
  • attraction
  • family portrait
  • female vampire
  • crucifix
  • evil ancestor
  • killing one's family
  • strangled to death
  • henchman
  • seducer
  • seduction
  • deception
  • greed
  • sealed coffin
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Cast & crew

House of Dark Shadows Cast & Characters

Jonathan Frid leads the cast as Barnabas Collins, with John Karlen as Willie Loomis and Joan Bennett as Elizabeth Stoddard Collins. Directed by Dan Curtis; 16 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in House of Dark Shadows

· 12 more
From the director

More from Dan Curtis

More films directed by Dan Curtis, best-rated first: Burnt Offerings, The Love Letter, Trilogy of Terror II and Me and the Kid.

Full filmography
Plot

House of Dark Shadows Plot Summary

What happens in House of Dark Shadows from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the Collins family mausoleum, Willie Loomis unearths old treasure and accidentally frees Barnabas Collins, a vampire who has haunted the family for centuries and quickly asserts control over him. Upon his release, Barnabas attacks Daphne Budd, the secretary to Elizabeth Stoddard Collins, leaving Daphne gravely wounded and prompting Jeff Clark to rush her back to Collinwood for care, where she is tended to by Dr. Julia Hoffman. The danger in the house deepens as Barnabas insinuates himself into the family’s life, weaving a web of charm and menace.

Full summary

The whole story of House of Dark Shadows, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

House of Dark Shadows Trailers & Videos

The trailer of House of Dark Shadows.

HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS: Original theatrical trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know House of Dark Shadows?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which character first discovers the ancient treasure that releases the vampire?

Details

House of Dark Shadows Also Known As

14 alternative titles, including “House of Dark Shadows - Das Schloss der Vampire” and “Το Σπίτι με τις Μαύρες Σκιές”.

Also known as
  • House of Dark Shadows - Das Schloss der Vampire
  • Το Σπίτι με τις Μαύρες Σκιές
  • Qaranlıq Kölgələrin Evi
  • Sombras en la oscuridad
  • La Fiancée du vampire
  • La casa dei vampiri
  • Das Schloß der Vampire
  • Nas Sombras da Noite
  • Sombras tenebrosas
  • 黯影幢幢
  • Дом темных теней
  • 돌아온 드라큐라
+2 more
  • Dom cieni
  • 血の唇

Seen House of Dark Shadows?

FAQ

House of Dark Shadows FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of House of Dark Shadows, each answered in a sentence.

How long is House of Dark Shadows?

House of Dark Shadows runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).

When was House of Dark Shadows released?

House of Dark Shadows was released on August 24, 1970.

Who directed House of Dark Shadows?

House of Dark Shadows was directed by Dan Curtis.

More films by Dan Curtis

Who is in the cast of House of Dark Shadows?

House of Dark Shadows stars Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins, John Karlen as Willie Loomis and Joan Bennett as Elizabeth Stoddard Collins, among 16 credited actors.

Does House of Dark Shadows have a post-credit scene?

No. House of Dark Shadows has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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