Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (2010)
Certified: 16
Duration: 99 minutes
Directed by: Troy Nixey
Starring: Bailee Madison, Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, Alan Dale, Jack Thompson, Julia Blake, Garry McDonald
KRS release
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark is a remake of the 1973 TV film of the same name that achieved cult status.
Under the production cape of Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy), the film is deeply atmospheric and has good acting.
The movie bides its time, waits to expose its hand and makes the best use of its setting.
The deliciously macabre and creepy Victorian overall look will be one of the key ingredients that fans of “things that go bump in the dark” will enjoy.
Alex (Guy Pearce) and Kim (Katie Holmes) are an architect and interior designer couple living in, and restoring, the Fallen Mill, a Connecticut manor.
Along with the two there are groundskeeper Mr Harris and housekeeper Mrs Underhill (Jack Thompson and Julia Blake).
The group grows with the arrival of Alex’s daughter, Sally (Bailee Madison) who has been sent by her mother to be with her dad.
This is not a welcome arrangement for Sally and leads to her giving Kim the cold shoulder treatment; although Kim really wants to build a relationship with the young girl.
One day, Sally stumbles upon a secret when she starts hearing voices coming from the vents which eventually entice her to the basement. That is when she discovers a vertical shaft sealed by the previous owner because of monstrous creatures inhabiting the place. The creatures are averse to light and only emerge in the dark.
The film has a striking look; an aesthetic feel that really sells the spooky house.
The beautiful cinematography by Oliver Stapleton, based on an orange and brown palette, combined with the excellent special effects, really elevate the film above other movies of the same genre.
The creatures are well presented and are quite fun to watch as they get up to some really mischievous antics.
They are not really cute but they aren’t really that fearsome either. In fact, the film plays more like a supernatural drama rather than a horror film.
Objects move mysteriously, voices and whispers cry out in the night, shadows lurk all over the place.
The audience is placed at the centre of the film and will easily sympathise with the character played by the young Bailee Madison. She steals the show, even though Guy Pearce and Katie Holmes provide intense characters.
Slick and well directed, the film makes good use of the Gothic genre’s bag of tricks; Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark has all the right ingredients to leave a spooky impression.