Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
Genre: Horror
Director: Troy Nixey
Stars: Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, Bailee Madison
Rate: **
Don’t be Afraid of the Dark, a reimagining of a scary 1973 TV movie of the same name, and produced by shock maestro Guillermo del Toro, sees a young girl attract the attention of mysterious creepy-crawlies with a taste for preteens. The movie’s opening hour is chock-a-block with atmosphere and the hallmarks of gothic horror — like a groundskeeper who knows more than he is letting on, mysterious voices and hidden chambers — but is light on action. It all leads to a satisfying climax, however, featuring swarms of cool creatures and enough ferocious fun to make the slow start worthwhile.
