Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2010)

A young girl sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend believes that she has released creatures from a sealed ash pit in the basement of her new home.

Director:

Troy Nixey

Writers:

Guillermo del Toro (screenplay), Matthew Robbins (screenplay)

Stars:

Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, Bailee Madison

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bruce Gleeson	...	Buggy Driver
Eddie Ritchard	...	Housekeeper (as Edwina Ritchard)
Garry McDonald	...	Blackwood
Bailee Madison	...	Sally
Carolyn Shakespeare-Allen	...	Airport Cart Driver
Katie Holmes	...	Kim
Guy Pearce	...	Alex
Jack Thompson	...	Harris
Julia Blake	...	Mrs. Underhill
David Tocci	...	Workman
Lance Drisdale	...	Policeman
Nicholas Bell	...	Psychiatrist
Libby Gott	...	Nurse
James Mackay	...	Librarian
Emilia Burns	...	Caterer (as Emelia Burns)

Storyline

A young girl is sent to live with her estranged father and his girlfriend at their new home. The father, Alex has plans to spruce up the home with the help of his interior decorator girlfriend, Kim. The previous owner of the home was a famous painter who mysteriously disappeared. Alex's daughter, Sally, soon discovers the cause of the painter's disappearance.

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Plot Keywords:

mansion | basement | interior designer | fear | imp | 

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Taglines:

Fear is never just make believe.

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and terror

Did You Know?

Trivia

The MPAA rated the movie R, despite it being shot with a PG-13 rating in mind. Guillermo del Toro considered this "a badge of honor". When he asked them what needed to be cut to be rated PG-13, he was told "Why ruin a perfectly scary movie?"

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Goofs

Near the end of the movie (1.27:30-1.27:32) the slide track can be seen under Sally's head.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Creatures: They will find us. We must fight.
Kim: No. We will go deeper, and we will wait. They will forget, and others will come.
Creatures: When will they come?
Kim: Soon, soon.
Creatures: Yes.
Kim: We have all the time in the world.
Creatures: Yes.
Kim: All the time in the world.
Creatures: All the time in the world.

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Bingo (2015)

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Soundtracks

Kensington High
Written and Performed by Ted Nash
Courtesy of Palmetto Records and Music Supervisor Inc.

User Reviews

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Movie Review

Every so often a movie comes along that changes an entire genre and becomes something more than just movie, but this is not that movie. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is a remake of a 1970's film of the same name. Guillermo Del Toro, famous for Pan's Labyrinth, brings us this modern update along with new director Troy Nixey. The movie tells the story of a young girl named Sally that moves in with her architect father and girlfriend Kim who are remodeling an old mansion. Soon after arriving the girl opens a doorway that unleashes a group of small monsters that attempt to kidnap her and eat her teeth!

First thing I should tell you is that the movie isn't that scary. What the movie focuses on instead is telling a good story that relies heavily on atmosphere. One of the best parts of the film is the mansion that they life in. What's interesting is how the mansion is treated almost like a character in that with all the construction that the mansion is undertaking, it changes throughout the movie. Starting from as an old building that holds secrets to a completely renovated mansion that is more than what it seems. From a comfy lit room to a dim lit nightmare, the mansion becomes the perfect set piece. I must give credit to the director for the attention to detail in every set and the eerie coldness that the movie makes you feel.

The acting is good but nothing to write home about. Katie Holmes does a fine job playing Kim, the interior decorator and love interest. Guy Pearce does an amazing job playing a father you really want to strangle at the end of the movie and Bailee Madison does a good job playing Sally. The little creatures, which are all CG done look fantastic in the film, which is something expected when I see the name Guillermo Del Toro attached to the film.

While everything sounds good and great and the movie does a great job at being a good classic horror movie with the usual or unusual twist ending, I still have a problem with the movie that is more an issue with the genre. That problem I have stems from the utter stupidity from the characters in the film. If some little monsters try and attack you or someone you know why wouldn't you do everything in your power to stay away from the house or at the very least be with someone at all times? Why is it that once everything is going to hell that all the characters decide to split up instead of forming a party? I mean seriously, it just pains me to believe that all these characters could be so very stupid. You know the little monsters are there but you still decide it would be a great idea to take a shower at night? Seriously?

OK, I think my little rant is done. Overall I enjoyed the film even though I am not a big fan of horror movies and I think that if you want to see a horror film is that more creepy than scary than Don't Be Afraid of the Dark will satisfy your needs.

Written by Steve Cienfuegos for MovieFloss.com

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA Australia Mexico

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 August 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

Filming Locations:

Central City Studios, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,525,728, 28 August 2011

Gross USA:

$24,046,682

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$38,269,529

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax, FilmDistrict, Necropia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS (as Datasat Digital Sound) SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1