Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) Review – Autumnal Horror Fun
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A visually arresting and atmospheric adaptation that successfully captures the spirit of the iconic book series. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark thrives on its 1960s autumnal setting, offering a “gateway” horror experience that manages to be legitimately creepy while remaining accessible to older children. Director André Øvredal and producer Guillermo del Toro create a world filled with imaginative creature designs, several of which – like the Jangly Man and the Pale Lady – are truly nightmare-inducing. It is a stylish and highly engaging movie that avoids over-relying on jump-scares in favour of genuine dread and excellent set design. For fans of the original stories, it is a loving tribute, and for newcomers, it is a perfect holiday watch. This 3.5 star effort is a polished piece of genre filmmaking that perfectly nails the feeling of a crisp October night. It is a modern seasonal staple.
Details: Director: André Øvredal | Cast: Zoe Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush | Runtime: 1h 48m | Release Date: 2019
Best for: Teen horror fans and families looking for a spooky but not overly graphic Halloween tradition.
Worth noting: Many of the creature designs were based directly on the original, terrifying charcoal illustrations by Stephen Gammell found in the books.
Where to Watch: VOD, Amazon🛒
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
(A polished and atmospheric autumnal treat that blends nostalgic adventure with genuinely creepy creature designs and solid performances.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we will indulging in some Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark courtesy of producer Guillermo del Toro and director André Øvredal.
Table of Contents
Autumnal horror fun
Set in the autumn of 1968, three friends, Stella, Auggie and Chuck, played by Zoe Colletti, Gabriel Rush and Austin Zajur respectively, head out for Halloween. After a night of fun, they find themselves locked in a spooky old house. This place was the supposed home of an abused girl who just so happened to write a book of terrifying tales that’s said to bring to life the reader’s most intimate fears. Little do the group realise, they are about to find out first hand whether or not that is true.
“Released back in 2019, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is one of those perfect Halloween movies. Based on the book series by Alvin Schwartz, the movie acts as a collection of dark tales brought to life.”
Released back in 2019, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is one of those perfect Halloween movies. Based on the book series by Alvin Schwartz, the movie acts as a collection of dark tales brought to life. These tales are connected together by a main story that focuses primarily on Stella and her fascination with Sarah Bellows and the book she wrote.
It takes a little while to get going. The movie first introduces the characters that we will be following along with. Stella is something of a bookish kid who is obsessed with horror movies. Chuck is a bit of a joker who doesn’t take things too seriously. Auggie is a little uptight and appears to be the straight man to Chuck. We also meet Ramón who is the “cool” member of the group, drives a car and is, apparently, all too willing to do the bidding of a bunch of kids.
Tense, humorous and engaging
It’s hard not to enjoy the camaraderie of this group and the fact that they are all so likeable makes it all the easier. Chuck, in particular, is hilarious. Most people remember the fun of Halloween back when they were kids and Scary Stories does a great job of capturing that feeling. There is an almost Goonies-esque sense of adventure to the story. That stands front and centre for quite awhile before giving way to some legitimately decent horror.
This is a movie that seems to be aimed at older kids but actually manages to be quite scary in parts. There is an almost fairground haunted house manner to how the scares in this film are delivered. The setup is fairly obvious, there are visual cues so you know that the shit is about to hit the fan, and it wants you to be prepared. It’s very well done and guarantees that there is rarely a long period of time with nothing going on.
“There is an almost Goonies-esque sense of adventure to the story. That stands front and centre for quite awhile before giving way to some legitimately decent horror.”
The spooks come in the form of a variety of characters from the series of books. I can only imagine fans will love the sense of anticipation that comes from wondering which of the monster from the original short stories will be appearing next. It’s surprisingly effective and I would genuinely put at least two of the characters up there with some of the creepiest I have seen in teen-centric horror. This is a great gateway movie, let’s put it that way. Perhaps too scary for younger children, though.
Fantastic cinematography and set design
Cinematography on Scary Stories is suitably great. Set in the late 1960s, it’s hard not to notice and appreciate the interesting aesthetic. Gorgeous classic American cars litter the roads, flared cords are in fashion, and the places the kids visit are charmingly retro. Filmed in a modern 2.35:1 aspect ration, the sharpness of the shots doesn’t lend much of an aged feeling to the production. It can be easy to forget that the movie takes place in 68.
It looks fantastic however, and the creative use of angles, particularly when the teens visit the haunted house, really adds to the traditional horror feeling of the movie. Panning shots of the local town are gorgeous and the warmly lit indoor scenes look great. Set design is very nice, too. The Bellows house is creepy in its ominous, near permanent darkness. Later trips to the house in its former glory are noteworthy for how bright and vibrant they look. Retro attractions like the drive in cinema are welcome for their reinforcement of the time period.
There’s some clever use of angles and set design to aid in the scares, as well. Later scenes featuring one of the monsters stand out for the hall of mirrors style nature of the environment. It does a fantastic job of capturing the dream like confusion the character in question is feeling. All in all, it’s a brilliant looking movie with a unique and interesting aesthetic.
Decent acting
Acting in Scary Stories is solid, pretty much, throughout. Zoe Colletti, as Stella, is really decent. Tasked with providing an emotive and raw performance, in parts, she does a fantastic job and you genuinely buy into the effect her backstory has had on her.
“This is a great gateway movie. Perhaps too scary for younger children, but it does enough to keep you entertained and some moments are legitimately quite unnerving.”
Side characters are great. Gabriel Rush and Austin Zajur, as Auggie and Chuck, have excellent chemistry and play off each other really well. Michael Garza, as Ramón, is fine at what he is asked to do. His character lacks some of the comical writing of the other boys. The role almost feels like a background character despite the amount of screen time afforded to him.
Austin Abrams, as bully Tommy, puts on a bit of a weird performance. At times, he almost seems possessed and as if he should be drooling like Pennywise in the movie version of It. I think his motivation here could have used a little addressing as the character feels over the top and a bit out of place. He would be great portraying a serial killer in a more serious movie, though.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Creature Design: The monsters are brilliantly realised, successfully bringing the haunting book illustrations to life with genuine creepiness.
- Autumnal Atmosphere: The film captures the feeling of Halloween in the 1960s perfectly, aided by gorgeous cinematography and set design.
- Likeable Cast: The chemistry between the three leads is fantastic, making the audience actually care about their survival and friendship.
The Bad
- Slow Start: The movie takes quite a while to establish its characters and rules before the first major horror set-piece occurs.
- Standard Plot: The overarching narrative connecting the stories is fairly derivative and lacks the punch of the individual monster sequences.
- Bland Antagonist: The character of Ramón feels underdeveloped and underutilised compared to the more comically written boys.
The Ugly: The Pale Lady. Her slow, rhythmic approach in the red hallway is one of the most unnerving and effective horror sequences in recent memory.
Should You Watch Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark?
Yes. It is a 3.5 star film that offers a perfect mix of scares and nostalgia. While it may be too intense for very small children, it works as an excellent gateway into the genre for older kids and remains highly entertaining for adults. The high production values and creepy visuals ensure that it stands out from the crowd of typical teen horror. If you want a movie that captures the pure fun of the Halloween season, this is an essential addition to your watchlist.
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