Director: Troy Nixey
Cast: Guy Pearce, Katie Holmes, Bailee Madison.
Running Time: 99 minutes
Certificate: 15
Synopsis: Young Sally (Madison) moves in with her distant father (Pearce) and new partner Kim (Holmes) in a mansion they are restoring. But when they discover a secret basement, Sally can hear the voices of strange creatures from behind the walls. Believing them to be friendly, she unleashes them into the house, only to discover they may be responsible for a number of disappearances years before…
At its most basic level, DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK is an old-fashioned haunted house story. The mansion setting is full of tricks, secret rooms, and shadowy recesses. All the while the walls seem to whisper, and inanimate objects spring to life in an effort to torment the house’s residents. The truth, of course, is that there are devilish hands at play, pulling at the proverbial strings of these goings-on. These hands belong not to the viscous nymphs who live below the house, but to producer Guillermo del Toro, who has once again delivered with his particular brand of fantasy-horror.
Though directed by Troy Nixey, one has to wonder just how much credit he will ultimately take. As this marks his first feature length film as director, del Toro will most likely be remembered as the visionary here, particularly as it fits so neatly alongside his past films. Del Toro’s traits and tropes scamper mischievously through DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK, easily recognisable to regular viewers, and surpassing any comparisons to the 1973 TV movie original.
But Nixey’s work should certainly be acknowledged; he has done a fine job in constructing a modern fairytale: it is contemporary yet somehow timeless, fantastical whilst sinister, and his ability to deliver shocks is unquestionable (even when it’s blindingly obvious they are imminent). However, are these not all familiar elements from previous del Toro films? Most certainly. But that is no reason to disregard the film; it’s an extremely well crafted piece of fantasy fiction, one that benefits greatly from a core concept that bleeds into the story’s visuals and script: the villainous faeries unleashed into the house are hurt by lights, and between del Toro, Nixey, and screenwriter Matthew Robbins, they have conceived several different ways for lights to be switched on and off, or for approaching darkness to be used as a silent threat. Simple but undeniably effective stuff.
It’s true that for regular del Toro fans there are few surprises, but one that is absolutely welcome is the engaging performance from Katie Holmes, who shines as would-be step mother Kim. Holmes’ once promising career seemed to peter out somewhat after she hitched Darth Cruise, so it’s good to see her back and taking on a role with some meat. Her on-screen connection with Bailee Madison (as Sally) is genuinely touching, and they bounce off each other in what makes for a believable relationship. Less can be said for Guy Pearce’s Alex, who, as Sally’s father, is all stereotype and no substance. It is far from Pearce’s fault, who is reliable as ever, but more to do with the script, which doesn’t offer the character any substantial arc with which to engage. This isn’t the only script issue either, as it also suffers from an occasional plodding narrative (for instance, a local librarian who conveniently knows all about the creatures habits and their, er, dietary requirements).
Essentially, DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK is the latest in del Toro’s series of effective and similar fantasies. Not only are their visual styling alike, but their core themes too; the question over whether Sally’s engagement with the miniature monsters is purely imaginary is extremely reminiscent of PAN’S LABYRINTH (2006). This new effort does have one unique aspect, namely the imaginative, evil nymphs who are able to use intelligence as a tool, not a trait with which movie monsters are often blessed. Fans hungry for a new del Toro film will revel in DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK, those cynics amongst the audience may consider it a lesser entry in his cannon, and not quite as accomplished as this year’s JULIA’S EYES. But it would be a difficult film to dislike completely. It is scary, funny, and surprisingly sweet, and very, very del Toro. It is perhaps time to start posing the question whether producers are able to be referred to as true auteurs.
DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK arrives in cinemas 7th October 2011.
