Scary Stories (2018)

A documentary about children's horror classic Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. It includes the author's family, scholars, folklorists, artists, and children's book authors such as R.L. Stine, Q.L. Pearce, and more.

Director:

Cody Meirick

Stars:

Alvin Schwartz, R.L. Stine, Peter Schwartz

Cast

Credited cast:
Alvin Schwartz	...	Self (archive footage)
R.L. Stine	...	Self
Peter Schwartz	...	Self
Bruce Coville	...	Self
Q.L. Pearce	...	Self
Maria Tatar	...	Self
Emily J. Knox	...	Self
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Amelia Cotter	...	Self - Author / Interviewee
Debbie Dadey	...	Self
Tracey Dils	...	Self
Betsy Johnson	...	Self
Chris Larsen	...	Self
Barbara Schwartz	...	Self
Daniel Schwartz	...	Self
Adam Selzer	...	Self

Storyline

Explore the history of one of the most controversial works of modern children's literature: The best selling teen classic Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, which scared a generation of young readers and became one of the most banned books of modern times. Scary Stories creates both the ultimate celebration and dissertation of this iconic piece of horror literature. Scary Stories features more than 40 interviews, from family members of author Alvin Schwartz, to fellow children's book horror authors like R.L Stine "Goosebumps" and Q.L. Pearce, to folklorists, artists and fans discussing the impact that the books have had on both themselves as well as the culture at large. The documentary also explores the various times in which the books were banned or targeted by parent and religious groups as 'satanic' or otherwise too macabre for its targeted teen scholastic audience.

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Plot Keywords:

book | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Did You Know?

Quotes

R.L. Stine: Part of Alvin Schwartz's brilliance was that he took all these old folk legends and made them readable for kids. And I think that's his particular genius.

User Reviews

My Review Of "Scary Stories"

The stories feel timeless, the books are infamous and the slice of nostalgia is priceless. And this documentary celebrates all of it. "Scary Stories" offers a deeper look into the controversy surrounding the books. The battle between censorship and free speech, framing literature as cultural heritage. Which is exactly what these books were then, and still are today. Cody Meirick, the director offers both sides of the argument, showing no forced, influential bias. Greatly appreciated because it allows for an authentic flow to the documentary's narrative.

The film includes introspective pieces from R.L. Stine, Amelia Cotter, Bruce Coville and Q.L. Pearce, plus plenty of artists and writers influenced by "Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark". The real star of the documentary, and rightfully so, is the books' original artwork. Meirick guides the viewer through the three distinct topics explored in documentary nicely. The author, Mr. Shwartz, the controversy, and the legacy of the book series' influence on pop culture and horror fans. This is clearly a must for both the horror reader and anyone who's childhood included the books- especially those who maintain a love for "Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark". It is a fun, informative, and entertaining watch.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official website

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 May 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

Scary Stories

Company Credits

Production Co:

Giant Thumb Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1