Fans of “Dark Shadows” should be pretty excited to learn that MPI Home Video is continuing to release the series (at a seemingly exponential rate). Volume 6 of this groundbreaking cult hit reaches store shelves shortly, and offers up yet another 40 episodes to add to your collection. For those not familiar with “Dark Shadows”, let me fill you in on the show I used to watch every day after school with my parents. It used to be one if ABC’s most popular soap operas when it ran from 1966 to 1971. This was unlike any other soap on TV at the time. Sure there was romance and murder, but there was also a heavy dose of ghosts, vampires, monsters and even a bit of time travel. The show was very dark (hence the name), and to this day some consider it to be the best soap ever. The only other show to even try to match the style would probably be the much newer “Passions”, but it pales in comparison.

This new set gives us episodes 413 through 452 and still takes place in the past. We are witness to Barnabas’ new status as a creature of the night and how he deals with it. He wants no more than to end his existence, but there’s no way Angelique is going to let that happen. His curse is to be eternal. And speaking of Angelique, she makes sure that Victoria is condemned as a witch at her trial. This sends Barnabas into a fit of vengeance against the Reverand Trask, who presides over the trial. Within these episodes Trask’s fate is sealed (so to speak).

MPI makes sure that each of these DVD sets has a few extras to keeps the fans happy. Usually it’s with a few interviews, and here is no different. The interviews with Roger Davis and Lara Parker are the best (I mean what red-blooded American boy could resist watching an interview with Angelique??) These interviews are rounded out with those of Louis Edmonds and Scenic Designer Sy Tomashoff.

Once again, the quality of these discs really surprises me. Considering the age and condition of the original materials. They really do look and sound great, and if you’re at all a fan of the series, you won’t be disappointed.

Starring: Joan Bennett, Jonathon Frid, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Louis Edmonds, Lara Parker, Anthony George, Nancy Barrett, David Ford, Clarice Blackburn, Joel Crothers, Grayson Hall, Jerry Lacy, David Henesy, and Alexandra Moltke
Extras: Interviews with actors Roger Davis, Lara Parker, Louis Edmonds and Scenic Designer Sy Tomashoff
Specifications: Color and B&W
Studio: MPI
Release Date: 6/24/2003
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Dark Shadows - Volume 6 an A.