Factual error: When Barnabus is talking to Carolyn (just before he goes out in the woods and kills the hippies) he says "I am a picker. I am a grinner. I am a lover. And I am a sinner. I play my music in the sun." These are lines from the song "The Joker" which was recorded in August of 1973 and released in October 1973. The song wasn't released for a full year after the events in the movie, which takes place in October, 1972. (00:56:50 - 00:57:12)
Continuity mistake: When Barnabas stops the disco ball from landing on David, he is set on fire. Willie then chucks a pail of water on him to stop him burning. The next shot shows the bucket Willie holds and there is no trace of water, nor is the bucket wet, even though he'd just used water from the pail to throw at Barnabas. (01:21:00)
Continuity mistake: When Angelique traps Barnabas in the coffin for the second time, there is a separate lid to the coffin. But by the time Barnabas is in the cemetery, hinges have suddenly appeared on it. (01:24:05 - 01:25:45)
Continuity mistake: As the Collins watch the manor burn down, two cars can be seen in front of the house. A couple of shots later, the cars have vanished. (01:40:50)
Plot hole: When Elizabeth is interviewing Victoria for the first time, she mentions that Victoria had sent her an application, therefore her name had to have been on it. However, Maggie Evans didn't change her name to Victoria Winters until she was on the train en route to Collinwood for the interview, therefore Elizabeth would have been expecting Maggie Evans, not Victoria Winters.
Factual error: On the Amtrak train, "Vicki" sees a sign advertising downhill skiing trips to Victoria, BC. There are no downhill ski areas in Victoria, or close by, and Amtrak doesn't travel to Victoria.
Factual error: The train sequences that are supposed to be in 1972 show Amtrak cars that were not built until the 1980s, and the rear (pusher) locomotive was not built until after 2000, as was the modified locomotive/control car in the front. The Amtrak graphics are from this century also. They went to the trouble to create 1972 Maine license plates for the vintage autos, and spent millions on effects, but they can't contact a historical society for the use of a correct coach for a day and search for stock footage of a train that's not 40 years too modern?
Continuity mistake: After Angelique kisses Barnabas, the lipstick she leaves on his face disappears and reappears between shots.
Factual error: Alice Cooper sings the song "No more Mr Nice guy." This song wasn't released at that time.
Continuity mistake: In the aerial sequences of the Amtrack train near to the start of the file, most of the shots shows 2 engines (front and rear) plus 4 carriages. In two of the shots, you can see 5 carriages.
Continuity mistake: When Angie kisses Barnabas in the drawing room, there is a small lipstick smudge above his upper lip. In the next shot, the smudge is much larger and it is under his lower lip.
Continuity mistake: As Barnabas approaches Dr. Hoffman, he passes an IV bag full of blood. Quick shot to Hoffman, then back to Barnabas, and he passes the IV bag again.
Answer: In the original television series, it was implied that 18th Century Josette Dupres had reincarnated as either Maggie Evans or as Victoria Winters in the 20th Century (Barnabas pursued Maggie at first but then decided Victoria was Josette's reincarnation). However, Victoria then traveled back in time to the 18th Century and actually met Josette, which was confusing (the same soul in two unrelated bodies in the same timeline seems unlikely). Tim Burton sidestepped that confusion by omitting the time-travel part of the original storyline. In both the original series and the movie, though, the point is that Victoria and Josette share a soul. Toward the end of the film, Victoria finally accepted that she was Josette and that Barnabas was her long-lost love.
Charles Austin Miller