When a phrase like “Guillermo del Toro presents” is used to promote a movie, it’s reason enough to be a little suspicious of what to expect. Sure, del Toro has lent his writing, directing and production talents to some great movies like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Orphanage in recent years. But the somewhat ambiguous term “presents” can sometimes mean nothing more than a big-name talent endorsing someone else’s film in hopes of increasing ticket sales.
Thankfully that is not the case with Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, the feature-length directorial debut for accomplished comic book artist Troy Nixey. A throwback horror movie in much the same vein as the recent Insidious, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark is a remake of a made-for-TV movie from 1973. With del Toro having co-written (and co-produced) this big scream treatment, the movie retains a ’70s horror feel with some of the creep-outs and creatures that have populated some of del Toro’s other works (namely Pan’s Labyrinth).
Set in a Gothic mansion where an architect (Guy Pearce) has moved in and started renovating in hopes of making the cover of some big architectural magazine, most of the story revolves around his troubled daughter Sally (Bailee Madison) and what initially seems like extremely bratty behavior stemming from her disdain for dad’s new girlfriend (Katie Holmes). But it doesn’t take long for everyone to realize that Sally’s not responsible for the oddly malicious happenings that become increasingly more dangerous to everyone in the house.
In fact, the multitude of goblin-like tooth fairies that dwell beneath the mansion’s basement have apparently wreaked havoc on previous tenants (namely an accomplished nature artist whose work took a turn for the macabre towards the end of his career). What begins as hauntingly creepy whispers and shadowy glimpses of these rodent-like creatures builds to a full scale gore-and-violence fest (though little actual gore is shown) as the goblins assert their physical and psychological dominance over the household.
With a darkly expansive setting reminiscent of The Shining and The Amityville Horror, monsters that evoke horror favorites such as Gremlins, Critters and The Gate and del Toro’s visionary take on the dark fantasy genre, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark has a few suspenseful frights (thanks in large part to composer Marco Beltrami) and an old school feel that will please most genre fiends. And Madison’s turn as the susceptible child being lured in by something from beyond adds more than a touch of Poltergeist-like unease.
Though it is unique amongst most of today’s horror movies (Insidious being a superior exception), Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark is also somewhat derivative of the movies that inspired it (and of del Toro’s own other efforts). But that’s just a minor flaw amidst an inspired cast and an otherwise overall great debut for a first-time director.
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark. Directed by Troy Nixey. Starring Guy Pearce, Katie Holmes and Bailee Madison. Rated R. www.dontbeafraidofthedark.com.
Review by Jonathan Williams