We all had that story when we were younger; we saw something out of this world. Whether it be a ghost, a creature or something creepy we all sensed that we aren't alone on this planet. Yet when we open our voices and told everyone we knew about it we were shot down like a crazy person. Sure, we weren't tin hatted yet but it made us paranoid and unable to sleep without all lights a blazing. Programs such as Goosebumps and the aptly named for this review Are You Afraid Of The Dark? played on that fear of ghouls and goblins so much so that after school programmes were just as terrifying as the movies are parents banned us from watching. No, not those types of movies you dirty people. Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark is a film that takes us back to that childhood fear; that something was stalking us but no one believed us.
Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark centers around 8 year old Sally who is sent away by her mother to live with her dad and new step mother Kim. Of course, her father doesn't live in a normal penthouse flat with maximum security and no history of Indian graveyards; they live in an old mansion that they are renovating to sell. The same house we saw plague the old inhabitant before. Sally soon discovers that there are other things in the house, other things that creep around in the shadows. Intrigued by the creatures Sally wants nothing more than to befriend them with all the childhood innocent she has. The creatures on the other hand want her and nothing else. Soon, Sally realises that her life is at stake. But will anyone believe her that monsters want to take her away? Will she survive the night or be victim to them?
Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark is by Guillermo Del Torro who gave us such creepy outings as Pan's Labyrinth and L'Orphanage both with children at the centre of the horrifying fantasy. While the original film (yes, its a remake) had Sally as woman, Del Torro decided to keep her young and boy the change pays off. Young Baliee Madison gives a wonderful performance as the tormented Sally. She manages to convey a series of emotions such as curiosity, fear and innocence that an adult could never do. Playing a long side good actors, she holds her own as the pivotal story plot and she is spell binding to watch in the role because she never falters from her character who can be completely bratty but you root for her anyway. And the creatures who plague her are terrifying enough to make this horror story downright scary. The scurry around like deformed mice who whisper and torture the poor girl into taking her away. The graphics and pictures of them are downright spooky and will haunt you every time you hear a scuffle in your house.
It's not all great though and unfortunately the adults within the movie cannot hold their own in the film. Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce are wooden and unemotional as the concerned parents and seem more bothered about their appearance on the movie than actual portraying any kind of solid character. Which is as much the fault of the writing too. There isn't enough in the movie to give any bond between the family and the build up around Sally and the creatures is weak, ending in a climax that is over far before it began. Instead of being scared as we were in the beginning, as the story unfolds the excitement fades and becomes less tense and more tedious. Even with the last second twist at the end, there isn't anything to care about and it mirrors cliched over done monster movies. Also, the creatures looks are shown way too early in the movie so whilst they may be terrifying to look at and beyond creepy, we see them far too often for that fear to set in throughout.
Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark works on some levels; it has wonderful detail and is visually stunning to look at from the house to the decrepit basement. Yet we know what is going to happen early on and we know who does it; there isn't much too carry on in the film. It is far shorter than expected and it is a detriment to the movie. Mixed that with placid and dull performances from the older generation and a film that has the potential to keep you up at night becomes almost a snooze fest. Saying that, I'll be sleeping with the light on tonight. You know, just to be sure.
2.5/5
TTFN
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