Dark Shadows: The Beginning: Collection 4 (1966)

If you've been following my reviews of the Dark Shadows saga, The Beginning: Collection 4 is where the bizarre and supernatural really begin to occur. This is the time where you as the viewer get your money's worth and get to experience the true reason why Dark Shadows has grown into such a cult classic.

In The Beginning: Collection 3 we left off with Victoria Winters stumbling upon a very expensive fountain pen which as it turns out was substantial evidence that might help prove that the death of Bill Malloy may have not been an accident. This information begins to stir up commotion into the case once again and causes panic in the minds a few individuals to the point that someone is attempting to scare Miss Winters by making it appear someone is out to kill her. The first half The Beginning: Collection 4 finally reveals the truth behind the mysterious death of Bill Malloy as the person who murdered him confesses it to Victoria Winters, now Miss Winters is being held captive on the brink of certain death, and it appears only the ghosts of old Collinwood can save her now.

The second half of the collection revolves around Laura Collins, the wife of Roger Collins. Her return after ten years of absence sparks additional mystery around the town, after spending many years in a mental institution no one knows why she has returned. But more than the mystery of her return is the mystery of the effect her presence seems to be inflicting on people. David begins to have bizarre dreams of his mother calling out to him while engulfed in fire, a dream that is strangely implanted in the mind of local painter Sam Evans as well, forcing him to paint Laura Collins in flames. It's clear Laura is having some influence over them and it has some connection to her odd fascination with fire, and the story of the Phoenix, a mystical bird that engulfs itself in flames to become reborn. It's a story which seems to be too coincidental to the report of a fire at her apartment in Phoenix Arizona, on the day she arrived back in Collinsport. A fire that the destroyed the entire apartment complex and left one woman dead, a woman found in her apartment!

The Beginning: Collection 4 is the best of the Dark Shadows saga so far because of its larger supernatural focus, and the growing mystery which is always seemingly unpredictable. It's a series I can honestly attest that I have absolutely no idea where it's going and constantly surprised with the outcome. The stories continue to become more mysterious and interesting by the episodes.

8/10