Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Review

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Review

Nyctophobia, or the fear of the dark is something hardwired into human beings. Nyctophobia is a phobia generally related to children. Children fear the dark because  We have been conditioned, to have a mild to moderate trepidation of the dark. As many predators hunt at night, this fear may have developed as a byproduct of evolution.  Rational fear of the dark is good for us, producing caution and alertness for the natural dangers of darkness. Those with acute cases are likely to be nervous in any dark place, experience elevated heart rates, breathlessness, and anxiousness. Most of us learn to cope with the  fear but for whatever the reason, most people also retain a bit of a fear of the dark. As a result, darkness is a frequently used element in horror movies and Halloween events.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark makes excellent use of our instinctual fear of dark places but is less of a horror movie, and more of a Grimm's style fairy tale.  As most of us know much of the work of the Brother's Grimm was dark, violent, and in many cases frightening. They are also typically cautionary in nature, meant to instill a fear of something dangerous so that children would avoid them. 

The story revolves around Sally (Bailee Madison), a young girl who is sent to live with her father (Guy Pearce) and his girlfriend (Katie Holmes). The couple is in the restoration business, and as a result have taken residence in a creaky and creepy old east coast mansion. Sally's curiosity, leads to the discovery of a hidden basement, which holds the whispering secrets of the previous homeowner, and much more. After her discovery, Sally is haunted by whispering voices with unknown origins. The voices befriend her, comforting her, drawing her in. By the time Sally realizes the voices are more menacing than she once believed, it is too late, and the damage has been done.

Guillermo del Toro crafted this story based on a 1973 television movie, and gave director Troy Nixey a fantastic foundation in which to visually tell his tale. His film feels very similar to Amenabar's The Others, or even Bayona's The Orphanage. These types of films push the viewer into heightened states of primal fear, where we become more alert and anxious. This edgy feeling gives the director a power over us, that can easily manipulate us. In this film we are given creatures based loosely on the tooth fairy myth. These monsters scurry about in disturbing and unsettling ways. They taunt the viewers as much as they taunt their victims, and just when we think we have escaped, they pounce.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark plays on our fear, but doesn't attempt to get cheap thrills, or shocks. This isn't the kind of movie that makes you jump, but it is still full of frightening moments. It is meant to disturb us, to make us uncomfortable and edgy by playing upon our very real, very natural fear. I stated above that the movie is less horror, and more cautionary fairy tale. As a result I think many people will be disappointed. But if you are open to the idea that the film exists not to scare or frighten us but to warn us, it makes the movie that much better. I encourage you to go in to this film without the expectations of modern horror films (no gore, no violence, and no jump out of your seat moments.) If you do, you will be treated to a very good film.