Click here!

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (15)

Horror, Thriller

A young girl sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend discovers creatures in her new home who want to claim her as one of their own.


The critical consensus

In re-imagining Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, del Toro pays tribute to a film he clearly loves, but with first-time director Troy Nixey seemingly directing by proxy, there’s little sign of the style or imagination of Pan’s Labyrinth or The Devil’s Backbone.

**(*)(*)(*)Eddie Harrison, The List, 13/09/2011

Del Toro’s pet project is a rather too well-oiled fright machine. There’s fun to be had, but it’s as grand and empty as a haunted house.

***(*)(*)Matt Glasby, Total Film, 21/09/2011

A satisfying, well-crafted supernatural horror movie, refreshingly retro in its Gothic trappings. It won’t traumatise a generation, but it certainly delivers the shivers.

***(*)(*)Empire Online, 03/10/2011

A minor Del Toro, perhaps, but a must for his fans.

***(*)(*)Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian, 06/10/2011

Del Toro's influence is apparent in the CGI of the bulbous-headed goblins, but the story has none of the shiver-inducing otherness of Pan's Labyrinth.

***(*)(*)Anthony Quinn, The Independent, 07/10/2011

All told, it’s about as scary as The Tigger Movie.

*(*)(*)(*)(*)Tim Robey, The Telegraph, 06/10/2011

This haunted house is classically constructed but ultimately its corridors are a little empty.

Anton Bitel, Little White Lies, 06/10/2011

It's more silly than scary with not enough plot and surprise but the cast are good.

**(*)(*)(*)Henry Fitzherbert, Daily Express, 06/10/2011

The trouble is when the monsters appear, they're cute rather than scary. I wouldn't mind one as a pet.

**(*)(*)(*)Daily Record, 07/10/2011

It's watchable enough and elegantly staged, but it's an Amityville Horror with delusions of grandeur.

Philip French, The Observer, 09/10/2011

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (15)

Where and when?

General release. Check local listings for show times.

Comments: 0 (Add)

To post a comment, you need to sign in or register. Forgotten password? Click here.

Find a show


Search the site


Find us on …

Find us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFind us on YouTube