Ben Cross does a wonderful job as Barnabas Collins and so do the major characters. Pretty good sets and effects for a low-budget mini-series. That being said, Jim Fyfe ("Willie Loomis") is extremely obnoxious as Barnabas' "handyman". He is about as annoying as JarJar Binks is in "Star Wars I." This version takes a left turn to 1790 before finally coming to a satisfying conclusion. Too much time is spent on the witch trial. This first "remake" (in 1991) is certainly not as much fun as the afternoon soap, and the Universal Monsters don't make "guest" appearances here. It basically follows the original storyline of the original soap: Dr. Hoffman tries to cure Barnabas of his "vampire condition". Originally intended as an on-going series; note the "cliffhanger" ending. Should have been tightened to a 6-hour series.
Caution: Extremely graphic and bloody when compared to the original TV "soap" version. Unrated. Should be rated PG-13 for disturbing images of blood and gore (a lot of red sauce). Nicely packaged in slim "wallets" by MGM. (Do not confuse this with the recent Tim Burton version.) I thoroughly disliked it at first, but on repeated viewing, I enjoyed it more. It's certainly more intense! Ben Cross is a better actor. Far better than the 2 movies released to the screen. Almost everybody becomes either a vampire or a witch, in this "revival" version!
Caution: Extremely graphic and bloody when compared to the original TV "soap" version. Unrated. Should be rated PG-13 for disturbing images of blood and gore (a lot of red sauce). Nicely packaged in slim "wallets" by MGM. (Do not confuse this with the recent Tim Burton version.) I thoroughly disliked it at first, but on repeated viewing, I enjoyed it more. It's certainly more intense! Ben Cross is a better actor. Far better than the 2 movies released to the screen. Almost everybody becomes either a vampire or a witch, in this "revival" version!