'Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark'

'Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark' (R) (2 STARS)

Writers: Guillermo del Toro and Matthew Robbins based on the 1973 teleplay
Director: Troy Nixey
Starring: Guy Pearce, Katie Holmes, Bailee Madison, Jack Thompson, Julia Blake

Guillermo del Toro was scared and influenced by a 1973 television horror movie called "Don't be Afraid Of The Dark". Guillermo describing the effect this movie had on him at a young age sounded fascinating. Then why does his remake make a very small impression on me and why did I feel bored by it? I want to see the original now because this remake left me cold and not scared at all.

"Don't be Afraid Of The Dark" is one of those child in jeopardy haunted house movies and I have seen a lot more of these stories done much better. It's a shame because the atmosphere and the feel and look of the old Victorian house the movie takes place in got me excited at first. Little Sally moves with her father and his new wife into a house where a famous artist once lived. Sally starts to see little demon gremlins that pop out to scare her and of course the adults don't believe her until it is too late.

The little gremlins that pop out look like exact versions of the gremlins from the 1984 movie "Gremlins". They look so much like those creatures that I was not affected by them at all and did not find them scary. In fact they made me and a lot of the moviegoers I saw the movie with laugh at them. If you want a better movie about gremlins then rent "Gremlins" again. The only thing I liked about the movie was the beautiful house where the story takes place. I don't know where they found this house but it is eerie, chilling and breathtaking! The production design saves this movie from being a laughable turkey.

I got tired of these little creatures terrorizing Sally and after a half hour of this movie I checked out. The set up is good but the follow up is dull. I expected more from this movie because del Toro loved the original and wanted to do justice to it with this remake. The movie's second half feels like it is on auto pilot. It also squanders a perfect opportunity to let the creatures loose on a busy dinner party in a later scene. This movie maybe made me jump twice and the spooky house then became less effective. The acting also does not show off Guy Pearce and Katie Holmes's finest hours.

I have seen about 15 movies like this one that are much better. I feel like it's target audience might be very dissapointed by this. When coming out of the theatre there was a survey going on and a girl about 18 years old said that the movie pretty much sucked and was terrible. This movie just didn't scare me and when a much better movie like "Paranormal Activity" rules the roost these days I expect del Toro to step up his game and he doesn't. Trust me, with this movie you don't have to worry about being afraid in the dark.

For much better movies about haunted houses and creatures check out one of my all time favorite chillers "The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane" from 1976 with a young Jodie Foster. Also check out the "Paranormal Activity" movies again and also 1984's "Gremlins" which at least has intentional laughs unlike Afraid.