NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS added to Warner Archive Instant

It was only a matter of time: The always controversial NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS has been added to Warner Archive Instant.

Before we go any further, let me point out that this appears to be a high-definition version of the film's theatrical cut. While different sites list various running times for NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS (Warner Archive Instant says the film is 97 minutes long, while Amazon and IMDB believe the film to be 95 minutes) those variations do not suggest the missing 20-30 minutes have been restored to this new digital version. I don't think many people were expecting that to be the case, but it's likely to be a question on many people's minds.

While it plays fast and loose with the rules, NIGHT is a direct sequel to HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS, which hit Warner Archive Instant just a few days ago. While I love what Warner Archive Instant is doing, I own just about every release of both HOUSE and NIGHT, and don't feel the need to purchase another edition of these films. If any of you have had a look at these versions, I'd love to hear what you think about them.

Meanwhile, if you want to know what was cut from NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS (and, just as importantly, why it was cut) check out our podcast about the film. Archivist Darren Gross explains the last-minute cuts made to the movie in 1971, as well as the process of finding and restoring the as-yet unreleased footage. Listen to the podcast HERE.