Medo do Escuro

This was surprisingly good - you just have to realize that it is not a blood and gore fest.

Fear of the Dark is almost a purist film; it is literally a story of a couple of kids who become afraid of the dark. It is not bogged down with lure or mythos and the need to explain who what why and where (alternately, the lack of explanation could be viewed as a film weakness).

Is it clichéd? Somewhat, but the director does build enough tension to keep it interesting and scary. It is low budget so the effects are not great; however this lends itself to a certain charm and reminiscence of 80's classics.

I have to disagree with some comments that I have read about this movie. Personally, I thought it started quite poor in that it would be another cheesy, cheap, suburban style movie. However, the route that it followed was surprising and interesting.

Basically, from my own personal thoughts, this movie brought into reality, the fears that I've experienced as a kid. Whenever you think there's something in your room, the safest place is always under the covers and if you peak out there's going to be a scary face staring at you. Or if part of your body is not covered by the duvet it'll get grabbed by a hand...

This film takes all these fears and myths into consideration and tries to tie them all in. No it's not necessarily scary in this sense, but I believe it tries more to 'relate' rather than scare, and perhaps 'spook' you rather than terrify.

Without spoiling it for people who have not seen it, the film takes an interesting route as mentioned before, making these fears more than the kid's imagination, and that was a surprise.

Some good camera work has been implemented but the film is still very basic. I would say it's an enjoyable film for those who are a little precautious of dark corners.

When I first rented Fear of the Dark I was skeptical having read the reviews on this site. I have to say it was quite good and my wife was equally scared and it even made me get under the covers when I went to sleep so as not to let the Dark Things get to me. Well worth the rental and better than I thought. The monsters were as scary as the ones on the box and the story was very good. The actors did a great job at being convincing and it was a well-written well thought out movie. I kind of thought it was a good movie as it wasn't on the shelves every time I went to rent it. I truly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in scary movies as it will make you sleep with a nightlight.

Excellent drama with a good message worthy of at least an 8 out of 10. The movie centers on a child's fear of the dark and there are many scary and dramatic moments climaxing in how to come to terms with ones fears. The script is good, the acting convincing and the direction very professional. And the youngsters who are the main leads give quality performances. Well done to those making this movie. More of the same please!

The lights are off but somebody's home in this tale of childhood fear, which builds to a climax that never quite arrives.

Jesse James plays Ryan, a 12-year-old diagnosed with acute fear of the dark, and Kevin Zegers plays Dale, his skeptical older brother. When their parents leave them alone for the evening, Ryan convinces Dale that the fear may be justified, and assorted misadventures in babysitting ensue when a storm knock out the power in their house.

The performances are better than in most thrillers, and James and Zegers are likable enough to keep you interested. It's also a treat to see Linda Purl, an actress with a disappointing career after she was a mainstay in '70s TV movies, as the boys' mother, though she's given little screen time here.

Unfortunately, as with the similarly themed "Boogeyman," the thin script and gimmicky special effects leave you longing for more. The film has a decent buildup, but no real resolution. Teenagers may be entertained by "Fear of the Dark," but adults are likely to be bored at this overly familiar tale. There's absolutely nothing to fear here.