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Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
2019 108 min Canada, Hong Kong, United States of America PG-13 16+
★6.5
Horror, Mystery
Director: André Øvredal
📖 Based on the novel
«Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark»
byAlvin Schwartz
Trailers
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Description
Mill Valley, Pennsylvania, Halloween night, 1968. After playing a joke on a school bully, Stella and her friends decide to sneak into a supposedly haunted house that once belonged to the powerful Bellows family, unleashing dark forces that they will be unable to control.
Budget:
$25M
US Gross:
$68.95M
Worldwide:
$104.55M
Starring
Zoe Colletti
Actor
Michael Garza
Actor
Gabriel Rush
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2021
— Best Horror Film
Saturn Awards 2021
— Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Key opinion
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a visually polished and atmospheric homage to 1960s small-town horror that succeeds as a stylish fantasy-thriller for younger audiences. While fans of the creature designs and Guillermo del Toro's production touch enjoy the suspense, critics frequently find the narrative formulaic, derivative of similar works like Stranger Things, and lacking in genuine terror.
| Production | The creature effects and production design are visually striking, effectively translating the iconic book illustrations into terrifying onscreen monsters. | |
| Direction | The direction captures a suspenseful and creeping atmosphere through skilled camera work rather than relying on cheap jump scares. | |
| Screenplay | The plot suffers from a lack of originality, relying on predictable, clichéd tropes that mirror popular teen-focused horror like Stranger Things or It. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the narrative structure are split: some find the integration of multiple stories into one cohesive plot rewarding, while others feel the story is disconnected and misses the impact of an anthology format. | |
| Emotion | The film’s effectiveness as a horror movie is divisive; while some find it a suspenseful and frightening experience, others argue it is too light, bland, or whimsical to be truly scary. |