Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark (2010)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Melvin W

  
  Creature: Turn off the lights. "Fear is Never Make Believe" What could have been. I had been wanting to see Don't Be Afraid of the Dark for quite some time now. Why is obvious; it's written and produced by none other than Guillermo del Toro. So I was excited. A… More
  Creature: Turn off the lights. "Fear is Never Make Believe" What could have been. I had been wanting to see Don't Be Afraid of the Dark for quite some time now. Why is obvious; it's written and produced by none other than Guillermo del Toro. So I was excited. A lot of the film resembles a lot of his gothic horror elements. The atmosphere is initially creepy as hell and the music fits the mood perfectly. Throughout the first 20 or 30 minutes, I still thought this was going to be a fantastic film. I guess it all goes wrong exactly when it all goes wrong for the little girl, Sally. When the creatures come out and we see them, it was just laughable. If those things are your scare factor, you should probably keep them out of sight for as long as possible. They are shown way too early and way too often to have any real effect at all on the viewer. When their hidden away at the start and all we get is whispers from behind vents, it is somewhat effective; but out in plain sight, is a completely different story altogether.  Now I'm not going to say this is completely worthless because it is not. It feels like a great horror film. The setting is perfect and the lighting is used well. It feels like a really good haunted house movie throughout, except that it's a creature movie and not a ghost one. I don't think the movie deserved to be completely dismissed like it was, but that reaction is understandable because it is coming from del Toro, and we have come to expect so much more from him. So it isn't all bad, but it could have been so much more with a few tweaks to the story, and possibly some scarier "creatures."

• Sergio G

  
  Another classic story of Guillermo del Toro. Honestly, there isn't anymore good horror movies. An this is not an exception. Is good from the point of view of a fantasy/suspense movie, but that's it. It's a like a good dark fairy tale. The most horrifying thing is that… More
  Another classic story of Guillermo del Toro. Honestly, there isn't anymore good horror movies. An this is not an exception. Is good from the point of view of a fantasy/suspense movie, but that's it. It's a like a good dark fairy tale. The most horrifying thing is that Katie Holmes accepted this role and NOT The Dark Knight .

• Film C

  
  Well its watchable, however it isnt a great horror, it isnt scary and apart from one scene towards the end involving Katie Holmes where it really looked painful and i cringe that was the only decent scene! Good actors however poor movie and really slow!

• Summer W

  
  An error in the listing says this is the 1973 version, which isn't the case. Anyway, this movie wanted to be good, but it wasn't. Not only was it not scary, but it was downright goofy at times-- I felt sorry for the cast. I'm only giving it two stars because the cast… More
  An error in the listing says this is the 1973 version, which isn't the case. Anyway, this movie wanted to be good, but it wasn't. Not only was it not scary, but it was downright goofy at times-- I felt sorry for the cast. I'm only giving it two stars because the cast did their job the best they could, and the cinematography was actually rather good. It was, if nothing else, an attractive film.

• Mark W

  
  Having delivered such quality horror films in the past with "The Devil's Backbone" and "Pan Labyrinth", Guillermo Del Toro does the producing and writing duties on this. He had the intention of directing it himself but due to a hectic schedule, the directing… More
  Having delivered such quality horror films in the past with "The Devil's Backbone" and "Pan Labyrinth", Guillermo Del Toro does the producing and writing duties on this. He had the intention of directing it himself but due to a hectic schedule, the directing reins were handed to first time feature director Troy Nixey. Maybe, if Del Toro had helmed this, it wouldn't have been as uneventful. But then, he did write the script, which is the films ultimate letdown. Young Sally (Bailee Madison), who's neurotic, overmedicated, and feels unloved, is sent to live with her divorced father, Alex (Guy Pearce). He's renovating a spooky old mansion with his girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes), but the house has a terrible history. It doesn't take long for the little girl to hear strange voices, calling to her from a boarded-up basement, behind a furnace vent. The voices belong to monstrous little creatures who mean to overtake her as their latest "friend." It builds slowly and assuredly the way a good horror story should. It has the vulnerable child; the disbelieving parents; the grand, dark mansion with it's enigmatic groundskeeper and the always reliable, things that go bump in the night. With everything place, you expect it to take off at some point, but it never does. The good use of atmosphere is wasted and the acting is wooden but even they are overshadowed by a sluggish pace and dull formulaic script. When the little creatures are finally revealed, it looks like it may be onto something but as impressive as they are, they are ultimately underused. Even they couldn't prevent the tediousness this film has. About half way in, my suspicions were realised as this was never really going to go anywhere and as a result my interest waned. The fact that this film lay in limbo for 2 years, before being released, says it all really. Like so many horror films (and remakes) these days, it promises so much but delivers so little.

• Justin Y

  
  With the help of a dark fantasy screenplay by Guillermo del Toro, Troy Nixey's <i>Don't Be Afraid of the Dark</i> is easily a watchable thriller.<p>Highly misconstrued as a horror, <i>Don't Be Afraid of the Dark</i>, while containing… More
  With the help of a dark fantasy screenplay by Guillermo del Toro, Troy Nixey's <i>Don't Be Afraid of the Dark</i> is easily a watchable thriller.<p>Highly misconstrued as a horror, <i>Don't Be Afraid of the Dark</i>, while containing elements of a horror, doesn't play out like one. The 95 minute story is a tad slow, but the mystery behind the "fairies" contain high interest value from beginning to end.</p><p>There aren't any scares to be had and the violence isn't overly intense or gruesome; however, there is just enough to back up an R rating. The CG and the design of the "fairies" is unique and nicely done. The film isn't shy about unleashing them either, although it does take a while for them to be fully revealed.</p><p>Guy Pearce doesn't have much of a likable character, which is a disappointment because he isn't the villain of the picture. Katie Holmes on the other hand, becomes more engaging as the film progresses. The young Bailee Madison plays a convincing girl who is tormented by the creatures of the dark.</p><p><i>Don't Be Afraid of the Dark's</i> lack of plot details and heavy character development keeps it from being a great film, but a good fantasy thriller it still is.</p>

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, Bailee Madison, Alan Dale, Jack Thompson, Julia Blake, Edwina Ritchard, Garry McDonald, Emelia Burns, Guillermo del Toro Director: Troy Nixey Summary: Soon after moving in with her father (Guy Pearce) and his new girlfriend (Katie Holmes), young… More
  Cast: Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, Bailee Madison, Alan Dale, Jack Thompson, Julia Blake, Edwina Ritchard, Garry McDonald, Emelia Burns, Guillermo del Toro Director: Troy Nixey Summary: Soon after moving in with her father (Guy Pearce) and his new girlfriend (Katie Holmes), young Sally Hurst (Bailee Madison) discovers she isn't alone in the house: strange creatures live there -- and they might not be as friendly as Sally thinks they are. My Thoughts: "The film had the creepy factor and the acting was solid, but the film just ran too long. I just kept thinking like come on get going. Never a good sign. I have not seen the first film and honestly didn't know there was one. Bailee Madison was adorable and really good in this film. I would say it's worth seeing at least once."

• Jeff "

  
  The remake of Don't be Afraid of the Dark is pretty good. The film relies on atmosphere to create effective horror and tension, and is a key component to create an exhilarating horror film. Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark is a chilling film that effectively uses atmosphere to… More
  The remake of Don't be Afraid of the Dark is pretty good. The film relies on atmosphere to create effective horror and tension, and is a key component to create an exhilarating horror film. Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark is a chilling film that effectively uses atmosphere to create the tension on-screen. I'm usually pretty picky when it comes to remakes, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good this film was. Sure the film isn't flawless by any means, but it has all the components for an effective horror film. Director Troy Nixey gives this film the necessary look for it to be an effective horror film. What separates Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark from other remakes is that other remakes rely purely on the CGI to create the tension, which is an aspect this film does for the creatures of course; but it also adds the necessary atmosphere that a horror film needs to be scary, and memorable. This is a good film that blends elements of the haunted house genre with the traditional del Toro monster to create an effective, chilling and overall fun remake of a classic film. I very enjoyed the performances of the actors here, I really like the fact that Guy Pearce was in this film, as I think he's a phenomenal actor, and in my opinion quite underrated. Katie Holmes despite the haters is good as well, and I very much enjoyed her as well. However the key performance of this film, the performance that made this film believable is Bailee Madison as Sally, she's a perfect choice to play the lead, and she displays great talent. Madison definitely has a bright career ahead of her. As far as remakes are concerned, I would list this film as one of my favorite remakes along with the Fright Night remake. Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark is a film that deserves to be on the very short list of watchable remakes. Flawed, but effective, if you're looking for a tension filled horror film, give this one a shot.

• Crash E

  
  attractive beginning force you to sit still on the couch to watch the next events, but these events turned the movie to a mediocre horror thriller.

• Steve K

  
  Under-developed with paper thing characters and an unlikable protagonist. And even worse, frequently boring. A misfire.

• MisterYoda ?

  
  three stars!!

• Brad W

  
  Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is the classic horror film we have waited a long time for. The story is about a father named Alex (Guy Pearce) who has just moved into a new house with his girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes) and his daughter Sally (Bailee Madison). When exploring the… More
  Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is the classic horror film we have waited a long time for. The story is about a father named Alex (Guy Pearce) who has just moved into a new house with his girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes) and his daughter Sally (Bailee Madison). When exploring the backyard, Sally discovers a window to a basement, and then they find a door to this mysterious basement. When seeing a fireplace in the basement and voices coming from it, Sally is curious and they tell her they will be friends if she opens the fireplace, and when she does, it will be the biggest mistake of Sally's life. The plot of the film was exactly what I expected, a creepy fairy tale where we are supposed to relate to Sally and how she is the only one seeing these things, it is not as scary as I hoped, but its a nail biting creepy film that grabs our attention with how they make us feel like what if this was our family this was happening too. The cast was amazing, they really made you think "what if this was my family?". Guy Pearce does a good job with his screen time, but he's not in this as much as you would think. Katie Holmes was good too, she played her part well and to the script. But Bailee Madison is the real show stealer, people I tell you her performance was amazing, she knew what to do, how to act, and what needed to be done to make a great horror film, I now think I like her after her horrible acting in Just Go With It. The horror was my main problem, you see maybe it was just me, but it was not nearly as scary a I hoped, but still, it had its nail biting and creepy moments. The monsters in the movie were also not very scary when you see them, when hearing them they were creepy, but when we have to see them it was not very scary at all. This movie is the first horror film of 2011, and so far it looks like a good start for this genre this year, and I realize many people didn't enjoy it, but I still found it enjoyable and fun to watch.

• Mike S

  
  Fails as a horror film, but if you look to the entertainment value, it wasn't too shabby. I expected so much more though from the director behind such a finely crafted film like <i>Pan's Labyrinth</i>. This has very little in common with said work of art, as it… More
  Fails as a horror film, but if you look to the entertainment value, it wasn't too shabby. I expected so much more though from the director behind such a finely crafted film like <i>Pan's Labyrinth</i>. This has very little in common with said work of art, as it leans more towards the second-rate mass productions of the Hollywood assembly line. Not very scary at all, except for a few parts in the beginning, and it's riddled with plot holes that left me with a lot of unanswered questions. Disappointing to say the least, and clearly sub-par for Guillermo.

• Matheus C

  
  If it fails as a genuine horror film (unless you are scared by digital goblins), it succeeds as a dark gothich fantasy film, in the same grounds as del Toro's own "El Laberinto del Fauno". It is a by the numbers horror flick (including the all too wise librarian who… More
  If it fails as a genuine horror film (unless you are scared by digital goblins), it succeeds as a dark gothich fantasy film, in the same grounds as del Toro's own "El Laberinto del Fauno". It is a by the numbers horror flick (including the all too wise librarian who manages to explain the whole plot), but there is enough atmospheric imagery and solid acting by the lead child actor to make it interesting.

• Frank P

  
  Alright, this film DOES have its moments, but these are few and far between. It stops being scary about 20 or 30 minutes into the movie, and it's all because of one mistake, one mess-up, one fatal flaw; they show the monsters in the first 30 minutes. Now this may not seem like a… More
  Alright, this film DOES have its moments, but these are few and far between. It stops being scary about 20 or 30 minutes into the movie, and it's all because of one mistake, one mess-up, one fatal flaw; they show the monsters in the first 30 minutes. Now this may not seem like a big thing, but once you see them, they're not scary anymore. Alright to be fair, it doesn't really show them that well, mostly a dark camera shot from an obscured view, but you can still see the basic shape of them, and they're not much bigger than rats or mice. The reason it was scary is because you couldn't see the creatures, you didn't know what they were, or you didn't even know if they WERE creatures, maybe they were all one huge entity, but no. Also, I may add that any light at all hurts them, not just sunlight. Near the end of the movie, the girl actually learns she can fight them off with light, so she uses a camera and actually starts hunting these creatures down; and when they gang up on her, she holds them off for a good FIVE MINUTES with that camera. Now really, if a little girl can fight them off for five minutes all by herself, how are they any large threat? My next point is the questionable acting, at some points, it's strangely written, and at some times even downright stupid. The creatures being a surprising factor in this. They use dialog that is at some times, just overused and stupid. Example: "We just want to be your friend." Thankfully this only happens a couple of times throughout the movie. Also, I need to say that the creatures are not fully explained. They actually do have an explanation, but it goes by so fast that you're probably going to miss it, and even then it doesn't really add up all that well. Lastly, I have to mention this ending, it makes absolutely no sense what-so-ever. Really, this ending is bad. I guess if you're looking for something different, you could give this a try, but if you wanted something scary and chilling like the original, sorry, but this isn't it.

• Arabella R

  
  Don't be afraid of the dark and don't be afraid of this film. Granted, there are a couple of 'jump out of your seat moments', but after having revealed the creatures too early, which to be honest looked more like the undead monkey in Pirates of the Caribbean rather… More
  Don't be afraid of the dark and don't be afraid of this film. Granted, there are a couple of 'jump out of your seat moments', but after having revealed the creatures too early, which to be honest looked more like the undead monkey in Pirates of the Caribbean rather than a chilling monster, there was nothing left to even be slightly frightened by. To be honest it really reminded me of The Spiderwick Chronicles but with a few more gruesome moments, which were not really needed. However, the cast played their parts well, apart from Pierce's accent, which wavered a few times throughout the film.

• Everett J

  
  I'm not a huge fan of haunted house type movies. They never really scare me and usually fail to be believeable in anyway. "Don't be Afraid of the Dark" however relies more on the atmosphere and the creatures rather than the actual house. The music, the tone, and… More
  I'm not a huge fan of haunted house type movies. They never really scare me and usually fail to be believeable in anyway. "Don't be Afraid of the Dark" however relies more on the atmosphere and the creatures rather than the actual house. The music, the tone, and the performances are all pretty darn good for what the movie is. Think a mixture of "The Others" and "Pans Labryinth". That may be a very bad analogy, but it's the only one I could think of off the top of my head. Guy Pearce and Katie Holmes both bring good performances, but Sally(Bailee Madison) really anchors the movie. The premise of the movie is basically Sally moves in with her Dad into a very old estate that he is renovating. Upon arrival she unlocks a cellar in the basement which unleashes these crazy looking little creatures that begin to torment her. Didn't find the movie very scary, but there are a couple of good "BOO" type moments, and it definitely has a creepiness feel in parts. Comparing to recent horror flicks, it's pretty good. Not really a classic, and will probably be forgotten rather than remembered, but it's still good for a view. Turn off the lights, kick back and enjoy this little horror flick.

• Unknown H

  
  A brilliant attempt at an old school horror movie, even Holmes was slightly good in it. Conjuring up the deepest fears of old and encapsulating them with true tales of folklore, a creepy house and a disjointed family trying to do right, this film gave more than I expected to receive.… More
  A brilliant attempt at an old school horror movie, even Holmes was slightly good in it. Conjuring up the deepest fears of old and encapsulating them with true tales of folklore, a creepy house and a disjointed family trying to do right, this film gave more than I expected to receive. The "tooth fairies" or "rat goblins" as I will always refer to them as were hilarious, whispering to eachother and wreaking havoc in the house, as well as trying to steal some teeth along the way. The beauty of this film is that it didn't use cheap tricks to scare you and instead made the creatures and the family, as believable as such an unbelievable situation could have been. Genuinely creepy and void of most taboos a film like this could have fallen into, the Del Toro scent was all over this one and certainly did not suffer for it.

• Liam G

  
  The Guillermo Del Toro produced horror film is underwhelming, for me personally. However, it isn't a truly horrible film. ''Don't Be Afraid of the Dark'' never takes itself too seriously considering what the premise is. The first half of the film in… More
  The Guillermo Del Toro produced horror film is underwhelming, for me personally. However, it isn't a truly horrible film. ''Don't Be Afraid of the Dark'' never takes itself too seriously considering what the premise is. The first half of the film in particular creates a very creepy atmosphere and director Troy Nixey stages some scenes of pure tension before attempting to scare you. Bailee Madison is also convicing as the standard fearful young little girl that features in most horror films and Madison pulls it off far better than most could have. The scares however, are very hit and miss. Some succeed but most don't. The movie never tries to do anything creative with its haunted house setting, instead providing us with the typical haunted house that appears in most horror films. The main threats of the film aren't very frightening either and sometimes instead of being truly terrified by them, you're laughing. I was expecting something better, but it isn't as awful as most horror films nowadays.

• William D

  
  "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" was almost as bad as "Conan the Barbarian." There were maybe three moments that were scary. The rest of it was just empty and boring. What a dud. Worst horror movie in years.

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