User reviews

When I was a kid I watched television every day until I was absolutely saturated with popular culture. Although I was an athletic youth, I ran home each day after school to catch the afternoon movie on Detroit's ABC affiliate on Channel 7. I have never forgotten seeing the film Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, about a young couple who move into the large rambling home once owned by the woman's grandmother. Something sinister once lurked the basement, but had been sealed within the fireplace by bricks stacked four deep -- the door giving onto the ash bin had been bolted shut. Evil subdued.

However, the first thing that happens when the young couple take over the house, is the wife wants to turn this grungy dank room into her home office. And she just has to have that damned fireplace cleared out and working. An aged handy man warns her against "meddling with things you don't understand," but she doesn't heed him.

Remember, there would be no such thing as horror movies if there weren't stupid people.

Sally, the wife, managed to undo the bolt on the ash bin door. That's all the evil needs to be unleashed through the house in the form of tiny raisin-headed ghouls who look like Smurfs gone bad.

The movie hit me like a piledriver when I was eight years old. It scared the absolute shite out of me. Last night I borrowed this film from a friend, seeking to demystify it. I'm just after watching the film for the first time in twenty five years, and I have to say that this cheesy little horror knock-off still does the job. I don't think it'll keep me up tonight as it had when I was a kid, but the story's simplicity, particularly its makeshift special effects, came off quite effectively.

I've never seen the film on the shelf in a video shop. But if you do come across and are looking for a nostalgic thrill, I think Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is what you're looking for.

Sally Farnham (Kim Darby) and her husband Alex Farnham (Jim Hutton) move to an old mansion that belonged to Sally's grandmother and they hire an interior designer and the carpenter Mr. Harris (William Demarest) to redecorate the manor.

Sally opens a locked door in the house and finds a sealed fireplace and ash pit. She asks Mr. Harris to open the fireplace but the old man argues with her and refuses to follow the order. Sally uses Mr. Harris' wrench to remove the bolts of the ash pit cover. Soon Sally finds that evil little creatures that fear the light have escaped from the underground through the ash pit and are threatening her. However, Alex and her friend Joan Kahn (Barbara Anderson) believe that Sally's imagination is affected by the words of Mr. Harris.

"Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" is a simple and effective horror film made for television released in Brazil only on VHS. The story of a young couple that moves to an old house and the wife Kim Darby, the unforgettable Miri of "Star Trek" and the girl Mattie Ross of "True Grit", releases demon-like creatures is original and developed in an adequate pace.

In 2010, Guillermo del Toro remade this film with a lame screenplay that included silly sub-plots and spoiled the original story. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Criaturas da Noite" ("Creatures of the Night")

Note: On 15 December 2021, I saw this film again.

Note: On 17 March 2023, I saw this film again in a recently released DVD.

I saw this when I was 8 years old, and whenever someone asks me what the scariest movie I've ever seen is, I tell them about this one, but nobody seems to know what I'm talking about! I'm so glad to see that I'm not the only one who saw it and was creeped out! Another movie from those days that had the same effect was "Trilogy of Terror," when Karen Black gets a Zuni fetish doll in the mail and it comes to life and chases her around her apartment---both these movies had a profound effect on how I looked at staircases and other places where little creepy things could be hiding. I'm looking forward to the remake.

I must have seen this movie when I was around 7 or 8 yrs old. This was the scariest movie I had ever seen. I was never afraid of the dark prior to seeing it, but afterward was a different story. When my parents put me to bed my door had to be slightly cracked open the the hallway light on. I slept with my covers over my head and I was so afraid those little creatures were going to get me. I then began telling some neighborhood kids about these little creatures and I don't think their parents were too happy with me. The parents complained to my parent saying I was "scaring their children" and they were having problems sleeping at night. Little did they realize how really scared I was and I guess I just wanted some company....oops. I've brought this movie up to many friends but no one ever seemed to know what I was talking about. But after reading a bunch of these reviews I am relieved to find out that I wasn't the only one scared out of their wits! To this day I really don't care for scary movies, perhaps that is a effect from seeing this movie, who knows? I am happy to report that I no longer am scared of sleeping in the dark :)

This is one of those movies that is best judged by the people who saw it on its original or first rebroadcast. By today's standards, I agree with a lot of reviewers that say it is not very good. I wouldn't give it a 1, but probably no more than a 4. But I am one of the lucky people who got to see it on its original broadcast, and like so many others, it has scarred me for life.

I harbor no ill will toward new viewers who didn't get to experience the fear and trauma this movie inflicted on viewers (especially kids like me) when it was first released. I actually feel sorry for them, as they didn't get to experience one of those rare movie experiences where everything just came together perfectly.

When a housewife moves into her grandparents old house, she opens up a sealed basement fireplace only to discover that sinister dwarf creatures dwell within it.

This made-for-TV horror film from the early 70's is a pretty good late night watch. Its story is cleverly unique and has a truly chilling, almost Gothic atmosphere to it. The brooding plot remains intriguing throughout as it ultimately builds to a terrifically spooky conclusion. The creature effects are nicely done and quite memorable. The music score by Billy Goldenberg is quite eerie and perfect for the films dark atmosphere. Best of all though is the cast. Kim Darby does a fine performance as the understandably nervous housewife, Jim Hutton is good as her husband, and Barbara Anderson does a nice turn as Darby's concerned friend.

Definitely one of the most memorable TV horror films out there, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is an enjoyable oddity for horror fans. Currently the film is set to be remade as a feature film by acclaimed director Guillermo Del Toro. It must have made an impression upon him as well.

*** out of ****

Seen when I was very young, this "made for TV" movie became the vehicle which drove all my fears. These fears, once irrational, were validated one unforgettable night. Up until that night, during bedtime, it was only instinct when I asked my mom to leave the hall light on. After seeing this movie, I had an image, and the creepiest music to plead with her not to never turn it off again! This movie plays right into those dark corners of legend. Why we don't just reach under the bed without looking first. Why, as we lay awake, closet doors need to be constantly observed. I was eight years old, and truly ripe for the scare of my life!

The movie begins with a cats meow and haunting music. The score of this movie is absolutely penetrating and perfect. This is not an overstatement. I can think of very few I would call it's equal. This music accompanies Sally (Kim Darby from True Grit) as she unwittingly, and unknowingly, sets free demons from a bricked up fireplace. They set about, slipping through the dark corners (and there's plenty of them), searching to get Sally's soul. Sally is isolated and alone. As frightening events start to mount up, and with no support from her workaholic husband, Sally begins to doubt her sanity.

Darby has a quiet demeanor that lends itself to her rising panic. When the "creatures" do finally appear, they seem to have come straight from a casting call from hell. The ending is absolutely unforgettable. I am far from alone in the opinion that "Dark" made quite an impact for it's time.

I am now 40. Don't like to have ANY lights on when I sleep. Can watch this film, or any other horror flick without strategically placing a body part to obscure the view. However, a few slight noises.....a scratch or a whisper, and my defenses still go up. The blanket is always on the ready. All because of a few film makers decided to take "TV movies" seriously. I thank them. I think.

Unnerving TV-movie features Kim Darby and Jim Hutton as an upwardly mobile young couple who move into an old manor previously owned by Darby's now-deceased grandmother. The veteran handyman tells curious Kim not to open the bricked-off fireplace in the hidden room downstairs, but she unbolts the ash bin anyway and unwittingly unleashes a society of evil little goblins intent on adding her soul to their circle. Well-done thriller from director John Newland and writer Nigel McKeand might have benefited even more from a slightly larger budget and more time on the clock to expand on McKeand's scenario. As it is, "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" is so compact that it feels rushed, although the finale being cut short may actually work in the movie's favor: there isn't an opportunity to ask questions, only to ponder the possibilities--and the sounds we're left with linger in the mind. Loosely remade as a theatrical feature in 2010.

'Whoever frees us must live with us and become one of us...' When a young woman and her husband move into the house she inherited from her grandparents, she finds herself drawn to an old fireplace that either harbours demons intent on drawing her to the other side, or she's losing her mind. After watching 'Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark', I wished I'd followed the advice of Mr Harris the old carpenter when he said that some things are better left alone, for this is most definitely one of the silliest horror films I've ever seen. The conviction of the actors alas suggests it was intended be a serious chiller of the day. Kim Darby, in her role as housewife Sally Farnham, gives a very real and concentrated performance that reminded me why Star Trek fans still remember her from her role in the episode 'Miri'. However, the characterisation is rather flat and dated for a modern audience (the paternalistic male attitude of the husband was a bit grating) and the realisation of the 'demons' both visually and verbally extremely childish - indeed, I think you more or less had to have seen this as a child in order for it to have had any impact.

This has nothing to do with the production values of the day - the execution is simply absurd, and about as frightening as a balloon with the word 'boo' scribbled on the outside with a laundry marker. Nor is it a criticism of the concept - certainly the idea of malevolent creatures living in the dark recesses of your house is a good one for playing on your irrational fears, but whenever these particular boogeymen spoke or appeared on screen, I found myself more amused by how ridiculous they were than anything else. Director John Newland seemingly does his best with what he's been given, using the dark to good effect - which is in itself a plot point later on - but when you draw a veil over rubbish, that doesn't stop it from being odoriferous. Recommended only for those coloured by favourable childhood memories and perhaps a new generation of children.

I'll always remember when the first advertisement for this movie was shown. It was on the old ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week (1973) and came right after the flick for that week ended with the announcer saying "Next on the ABC Wednesday movie of the Week". A clip of William Demarest telling Kim Darby "Some things are better off left alone" then a few other quick clips concluding with the announcer saying "Don't be Afraid of the Dark" as a lit Flashlight in pitch blackness is snatched up by something which the viewer is given only an eyeblink glimpse of. WOW! It was definitely worth the week long wait. This was hands down the scariest Things that go bump in the night made for TV movie ever! Throughout the years it's amazing how many people I've met have seen and remember this movie. Sometimes all it takes is to say "Did you ever see the movie with the guy who played Uncle Charlie from My Three Sons" and they'll immediately say "DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK."!

I also saw this movie as a kid and was haunted by it for a long while. I still remember being scared of the little creatures. There was another somewhat similar TV movie called Trilogy of Terror (just found the titles of both of these movies on the web out of curiosity) with Karen Black where she was haunted by a little voodoo like creature with a spear that also really got me good. As far as the effect a scary movie had on me at the time I saw it, this was by far the scariest movie I have seen in my life. I don't know if it would have much an effect on me now or not but it certainly did then.

I'm guessing it is not available on DVD or video.

The promise of the premise belies the fact that not only is this a TV movie, but a production that originally aired on ABC. That's no especial guarantor of quality, though I think it does color expectations a bit: the film reflects some outdated social values and stereotypes, and the development of odd goings-on is so low-key that if released theatrically, this would surely have been rated PG. Once we do see the creatures at the heart of the film - well, I suppose I admire the simple costume design, but there's no small amount of kitsch behind 'Don't be afraid of the dark.'

Effects are questionable, character writing is thin, and performances strike me as mostly just suitable. Only Kim Darby, as beleaguered housewife Sally, demonstrates any small measure of nuance that marks her portrayal distinct from those of her costars. That said, even as it plays on classic anxieties about what lurks in the dark, and paranoid fears of dank cellars, the material that Darby or anyone else has to work with is light, so there's only so much to be done with it.

Even with the creatures on hand, one could feasibly also describe this at least in part as psychological horror, given the focus on Sally and her state of mind. But that aspect, too, is constrained by the nature of the production. I try to bear in mind the context of the timeframe and distribution; even so, in my mind the concept would have benefited greatly from more robust realization in every regard - more liveliness, more eventfulness. As it is, 'Don't be afraid of the dark' is somewhat middling.

None of this is to say it's bad. I think the climax in particular is aptly unsettling, and in fact so well done as to lift the film from the edge of mediocrity. One just needs to temper their expectations, because while the morbidly fun notion that draws us in bears fruit, it's mostly less delicious and than it is merely nutritious. 'Don't be afraid of the dark' is fine, medium-value, family-friendly horror; don't go out of your way, but it's worth checking out if you come across it.

Despite the fact that it's only a TV movie, Don't be Afraid of the Dark is a creepy little film that takes it's modest plot and does really well with it. The themes in the film aren't very original, and it's always clear that the movie was made for TV as elements such as the acting performances and locations used aren't exactly the best, but the film succeeds in spite of this and actually works to much better effect than many big budget yet similar films. The plot is intriguing from the beginning, and revolves around a blocked up fire place in a house that a couple have just moved into. Naturally, being a woman; the wife decides that she wants to use that fire place, and proceeds to open it up despite the advice of the friendly repair man. It turns out that this fire place harbours tiny demons, and now no one will believe that she is actually seeing them! Director John Newland does well at implementing a creepy atmosphere, and there's also a lot of tension as the origin of the demons takes centre stage. The fact that it's never properly explained exactly where they came from is a shame, however, but the ending wraps everything up nicely and manages to create some intrigue on its own. Small niggles such as the fact that lead actress Kim Darby looks too young aside, in general this film is well worth seeing and definitely comes recommended!

I just commented on this movie in another review, but I didn't know the title. Now I do. This was a rather good haunted house type movie that does play sort of like an episode of "Tales from the Darkside". That is not a bad thing coming from me as I liked that show. This one is really pretty creepy and it goes at a quick pace and seems to be over really quick. This one has a husband and wife moving into an old house where there apparently is something lurking. There are scenes where they show the house and you hear people having these strange conversations. They seem to really take to the wife and the wife seems to be the target of their attention. The movie progresses quite nicely and has a rather surprising end. Really good television movie that could have explained a bit more, but not too much more. I can not believe it was made in 1973 as it seemed to be newer than that to me.

Unbelievably creepy. Is this movie on DVD or video anywhere? I haven't been able to get it out of my mind since seeing it in the 70's. Totally 70's gritty cool horror film. We'll probably never see horror made like this again. Especially when dopey heiresses are playing leads in current horror films. Movies, especially horror, have sucked since the early eighties. The film brings you back to a time when people didn't need spit shined, glossy Hollywood film style to be scared. Budgets were limited, so this movie makes do with lighting, shadows, eerie music, and mood. So again, shut out the lights, curl up under a warm blanket, and try not to be afraid of the dark.

Although unavailable for decades, DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK has to be one of the best remembered US TV movie horrors of the 1970s, up there with the likes of DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW. Nowadays an insipid remake hasn't put off the scores of fans who were traumatised by this film's scares when they first saw it as kids back in the day.

The story is a simple 'haunted house' horror yarn about a married couple who move into a new abode. The wife becomes quietly obsessed with the blocked-up fireplace and grate in the basement, and sets about opening them up despite warnings not to meddle. Soon she finds herself assailed by miniature critters with designs on her very soul.

I'd never seen this before so had no idea what to expect, but I was impressed with this TV movie's atmosphere, which is more oppressive and horrific than many a big-bucks Hollywood production of the era. In many ways it's an old fashioned production in which the scares are more subtle than in something like THE AMITYVILLE HORROR with its in-your-face fright sequences.

The acting is fairly middling, with the exception of Kim Darby who puts her all into the role of the frightened housewife. The direction and cinematography are fine. The only problem lies with the creatures themselves, one of whom is played by Felix Silla (of BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY fame). We see far too much of them as the film progresses, and the fact they talk in drawling US accents means that they're not frightening in the least. They should have spoken inarticulately, in hisses or grunts, and they should have been kept in the shadows until the final reveal. Less would have definitely been more in this case.

I've heard about this for a while, and wanted to see it after all the praises it got. Now that I did, I'm extremely disappointed. It certainly wasn't the supposed "masterpiece" it's made out to be on its board - in fact, it turned out to be a cheaply made (the puppets were really ridiculous), dull TV fare with bad attempts at creating ambiance and too many obvious "scares" that could have been effective in 1973, but definitely not today. Actually, I doubt it was even effective in 1973 - "The Exorcist" still holds as the best tension-keeping movie of all time, and it was made in the same year. I guess those who praise this mediocre TV flick as "great" only do that because of nostalgia.

There are times in a horror fans youth that a certain film will leave an impression that will be carried forward for ever more. In my case one such film is "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark". A cheaply made for TV picture starring Kim Darby, Jim Hutton and William Demarest. The plot on the surface is standard. Alex and Sally Farnham inherit a big old mansion from their deceased grandmother, it has a basement den room with a bricked up fireplace. Sally wants to unblock the fireplace but is advised by the family handyman that it should be left as it is. Naturally Sally goes ahead and has the fire opened up, and pretty soon she starts to hear voices and see what she thinks is little men in her midst...

"Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" terrified me as a child because it played on one of my basic fears, a fear that is shared by many an impressionable child. That of something being under the bed at night time, or in the cupboard, and yes, in the walls behind the fireplace. Of course now as an adult revisiting the film it has lost the power to truly terrify me. But not once since that time as a child have I not cast a nervous smile in the direction of all the open fireplaces I've come across over the years. This is something I think one should always remember when revisiting such films from your youth, the impact back then is what's important. Now to me the film is a nostalgic trip that still retains the power to prick up those goose-bumps, and with each goose bump comes back memories of believing there was such a thing as little troll like demons out to get us.

It's a cracking little chiller is this, the cast give it their all (particularly Darby) and while the effects and production are evidently low, it still carries a charm that 70s TV movies seem to carry for those that blossomed during it. Very much a cult film over the years, horror fan pressure has led to it finally getting a DVD release in August 2009. All those fans are just like me, they remembered the night that "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" actually meant that we "would" be afraid of the dark. First time viewers to it now are unlikely to get much, if anything, from it. But don't mock or be scornful towards us, for we was there, and we carried with us that first chill for ever more. 8/10

This was the film that gave nightmares to a whole generation of children, who were afraid of what might be in the closest, behind the door, or under the bed: mysterious and evil little creatures who laugh maniacally to each other as they plan to harm a young newlywed couple(played by Jim Hutton & Kim Darby) who have moved into their home, after the wife foolishly opens the grate in the cellar, releasing them from their underground prison.

Though short in length, and threadbare on character development and plot detail, this creates an unsettling mood of fear, and atmosphere of dread, that it overcomes these issues to be an effective little gem; and of course there is that ending, the stuff of said nightmares...

This is one of those little films that lends itself to legendary status, because it is almost impossible to see nowadays. With a great deal of effort and patience, one can find a copy....but it sure isn't easy. So many of us remember seeing it when it aired...I was all but six or seven and remembered only these gnome-like creatures. Recently I was able to see it again....and started to remember a lot more of it. The film is pretty atmospheric as it chronicles the slow then fast menacing of Sally Farnham by pint-sized demons with conical shaped heads. Sally and her husband recently moved into this large house and forsaking the advice of carpenter William Demarest, Sally opens a fireplace which had been sealed over twenty-five years ago. These creatures lived in the fireplace and now they want Sally...to join them. Kim Darby does a good job playing Sally as she slowly descends into madness...as well as other destinations. Forget all the talk about it being only good for a television movie...this is a good movie period. It has loads of atmosphere and suspense, albeit a bit shallow in the area of plot.