Review & Swatches: ORLY Dark Shadows Collection

I wouldn’t even be able to guess how long it has been since I last reviewed an ORLY nail polish on BJU. The answer would be, TOO LONG, I know. But when I saw how gorgeous these new releases were, I knew I had to highlight them for you—as they’re part of the Dark Shadows Collection, inspired by the upcoming Tim Burton movie. Let’s get to it, shall we?

There are four nail lacquers in the collection, with each one portraying a name and shade that is supposed to fit the dark humor of the film. I haven’t seen the film yet (and honestly don’t know if I will), but here’s a little background, via the press release:

Director Tim Burton brings the cult classic series “Dark Shadows” to the big screen in a gothic comedy featuring an all-star cast.

In the year 1752, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from England to start a new life in America. Two decades later Barnabas is the master of Collinwood Manor—rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy…until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard, who dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries pass before Barnabas is freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin and the dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each harboring their own dark secrets.

“Dark Shadows” stars Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloe Grace Moretz, Bella Heathcote and Gulliver McGrath.

More photos, swatches, and shade descriptions…

Mysterious Curse is a stunning purple duo-chrome shimmer. Easily, my favorite of the group!

Buried Alive is a really unique rich brown shimmer that reminds me of a bubbly root beer float!

Decades of Dysfunction is a darling and demure blush/bisque creme that may require a thin third coat for complete coverage.

Grave Mistake is a dark and vampy red creme.

All of the swatches were completed with two coats of polish, with the exception of Decades of Dysfunction which I thought looked slightly better with a thin third. I didn’t detect any flow or consistency issues with these. Trying out the Dark Shadows Collection has put ORLY back on my nail polish radar! I hope to be able to bring you info on more new shades from the brand soon.