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Dark Shadows Dramatic Readings, Audiobooks #8
Echoes of Insanity
"I discovered your mind in the darkness and I knew we could help each other."
After being shot outside Maggie Evan's door, Willie Loomis is incarcerated at the Windcliff Institute. Fear and pain cloud his memory, until a golden angel appears and takes him on a journey through past exploits with his friend, Jason. With Jason now gone, Willie must face the evils of Collinwood alone, as he attempts to discover the truth about his old master, Barnabas Collins.
The legend continues in this hour-long dramatic reading, based on the classic ABC TV series, featuring haunting music and specially dramatised scenes.
After being shot outside Maggie Evan's door, Willie Loomis is incarcerated at the Windcliff Institute. Fear and pain cloud his memory, until a golden angel appears and takes him on a journey through past exploits with his friend, Jason. With Jason now gone, Willie must face the evils of Collinwood alone, as he attempts to discover the truth about his old master, Barnabas Collins.
The legend continues in this hour-long dramatic reading, based on the classic ABC TV series, featuring haunting music and specially dramatised scenes.
Audio CD
First published July 31, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 25, 2025
I'm not sure if this one actually deserves five stars, but compared to the slop that preceded it chronologically, this was award-worthy. It genuinely feels like a story we should have gotten in the original run of the Dark Shadows soap— even though it brings up plot points I suspect will be unresolved. That said, the notion of (pre-Cassandra) Angelique attempting to manipulate Willie Loomis while he is at Windcliff Institute and ultimately being the reason he "got better" was a very satisfying narrative. Especially hearing him remember what happened and lie his way out of the institute. That was very Willie. And it helped clear up some semi-uncharacteristic motivations in the show.
The only thing I have trouble with— besides, maybe, the overly raspy voice John Karlen had from old age— is Willie seemingly teaming up with Angelique. I'm not finished with the Dream Curse/Adam storylines, so I don't know if anything is revealed, but it seems to go against what happens in the show. I get that they had Willie say that he's looking out for himself without the intention of serving Angelique or Barnabas, but the foreseeable future shows him as Barnabas' servant. In that regard, perhaps this is more or a 9/10.
Even so, the performances were emotional, and the writing reminiscent of a solid B-plot from Dark Shadows late 60's run. So, in my eyes, this was a fantastic addition to the canon— especially since it was a plausible backstory, instead of something like what they did for Clothes of Sand, having Maggie mentally fight the Sandman (lol) during her hospital stay.
The only thing I have trouble with— besides, maybe, the overly raspy voice John Karlen had from old age— is Willie seemingly teaming up with Angelique. I'm not finished with the Dream Curse/Adam storylines, so I don't know if anything is revealed, but it seems to go against what happens in the show. I get that they had Willie say that he's looking out for himself without the intention of serving Angelique or Barnabas, but the foreseeable future shows him as Barnabas' servant. In that regard, perhaps this is more or a 9/10.
Even so, the performances were emotional, and the writing reminiscent of a solid B-plot from Dark Shadows late 60's run. So, in my eyes, this was a fantastic addition to the canon— especially since it was a plausible backstory, instead of something like what they did for Clothes of Sand, having Maggie mentally fight the Sandman (lol) during her hospital stay.
January 25, 2020
This was fantastic! Willie Loomis after being shot finds himself in Windcliff Sanitarium under the care of Julia Hoffman. But falling in and out of conciousness a witch by the name of Angeligue speaks to Willie Loomis wanting him to remember his past and what happened up in Collinwood. What is Angeligue up to and is this for her own agenda and why is Julia Hoffman hypnotising Willy?
This was fantastic with a nice bit of backstory to Willy before he arrived into Collinwood with Jason and also it's wonderful to have a story with Willie Loomis and Angeligue Bouchard who are brilliantly played by John Karlen and Lara Parker. The script is great too with awesome moments and a great ending which is complimented by the fabulous directing. 10/10
This was fantastic with a nice bit of backstory to Willy before he arrived into Collinwood with Jason and also it's wonderful to have a story with Willie Loomis and Angeligue Bouchard who are brilliantly played by John Karlen and Lara Parker. The script is great too with awesome moments and a great ending which is complimented by the fabulous directing. 10/10
August 31, 2020
In 1968, Willie Loomis was shot and Barnabas framed him for kidnapping Maggie. Willie was sent to Windcliff and was off the show for a while. This story details what happened while Willie was at Windcliff... and it bridges to the arrival of Cassandra Collins (Angelique Bouchard).
May 23, 2017
It was cool getting to imagine what went on behind the scenes
January 15, 2022
Oh, this one was sooooo good! The story of what happened to Willie in Windcliff is delightfully wicked :P
October 17, 2016
It's 1968, and Willie Loomis is recovering in Wyndcliffe Sanatorium after being shot in the back by the Collinsport police, who believe he was Maggie Evans's kidnapper. Willie, drifting in and out of consciousness due to the drugs in his system, communicates with a blonde angel. Soon he figures out that this is no angel, but a witch who wants Willie to remember what happened to him so she can learn about the present-day Collins family. A nice story, not quite as gripping as some of the other Big Finish Dark Shadows tales.
November 26, 2020
Not a bad Dark Shadows. Willie is in Wyndcliffe after trying to save Maggie from Barnabas. We get to know is back story. Angelique shows up to get info. Typical Dark Shadows adventure told incredibly well. I recommend.
June 17, 2016
Ending was a little disappointing
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews