Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2010) User Reviews

I Enjoyed the Creatures

[mudplayerx · 7/10 · 1 October 2017]

I do not know where all of these other cynical, angry reviews are coming from. Sure they showed the 'goblins' in abundance, but this isn't your typical jump-scare movie; which is fine by me. This was more of a fantasy-horror film where you are supposed to be as much enthralled by the creatures as you are 'afraid' of them.

I thoroughly enjoyed how the creatures looked, moved, and acted. It reminded me of a more modern-made version of the little imps from the movie "The Gate." Instead of dreading them and being on the edge of my seat, I was waiting to see them and their antics again. Perhaps that's why the other reviewers are angry. Perhaps this film has been mis-marketed.

If you like creepy little bipedal monsters that look like imps/goblins, then this movie is for you. If you like fantasy monsters and played Dungeons and Dragons as a kid then you will enjoy this film. If you enjoy medieval European folklore and cryptozoology then you will be as entertained as I was.

Good: 7.0

[StonedMagician · 7/10 · 27 July 2019]

In an age where the term "horror movie" is synonymous with blood and guts, every so often one comes along that decides to buck the trend. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is one such movie. An atmospheric, slow-building, suspenseful, flawed masterpiece, this film grabs at the nerves and dangles them in front of the blade until those moments when it saws at them with a relentless zeal. Guillermo Del Toro is a man known for generally imbuing greatness into any film he produces or directs. The Orphanage. Pan's Labyrinth. Hellboy. All of these have been slathered with his special sauce. This time, I have to admit, I had my doubts. With director Troy Nixey, a former comic book artist, helming this movie, I was skeptical that this guy would be able to to avoid the appearance of being a novie, first time director. Fortunately, I was proven wrong. The thing about this movie that's most flawed is not Nixey's more-than-adequate direction. The weak point is, in fact, the screenplay, which focuses too much on the family drama, rather than the scares. Granted, the scenes between the main characters are sufficiently emotionally charged to be worth paying attention to, they ultimately do not mean much to the story. The horror scenes, however, are so damned effective, so well-done, that they manage to put the great majority of modern horror pieces to shame. You will feel your heart beating against your chest as multitudes of miniscule creatures skitter towards the protagonists with a bloodthirsty hunger. You will feel the realization as... well, you'll find out. Though this isn't the perfect horror movie, it is a great modern example of the genre. A stark, suspenseful trip through an aboveground Hell that any horror fan cannot afford to miss.

Not a masterpiece, not bad, just a good film.

[jp_91 · 7/10 · 14 July 2021]

"Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" is a film with a good horror-fantasy plot but not very well executed, the cinematography does its job, the acting is good but the direction is weak. It could be a better film.

Not much need to be afraid of this remake

[inkleinedpuncture · 4/10 · 27 August 2011]

Pros: beautiful scenery/sets, a few good jumps, and about 5-10 minutes of eerie atmosphere

Cons: not very scary, too much CGI'd gremlins, and a very predictable/slow plot

Conclusion: rent the original and skip this remake

The much anticipated, by me, remake of the 1973 made for TV movie of the same name left me feeling extremely disappointed. The plot was fairly simple. A young girl Sally (Bailee Madison) moves in with her father Alex (Guy Pearce) and his girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes), into a house Alex and Kim are fixing up to sell. Soon upon arriving, adventurous Sally discovers the house has a basement and that the family is not alone. The basement's fireplace is inhabited by little CGI'd creatures that terrorize the family, especially Sally. The actors I felt all did an adequate job playing their parts, especially young Sally (Bailee Madison), who played a convincingly cynical little girl fed up with being 'sold' by her mother to live with her father. Overall the movie was very predictable and offered very few scary moments. The creatures from the original, people dressed in little goblin costumes, were sparingly showed. I think it was way more effective than the over-shown little gremlins in this movie, which looked to me like Chihuahuas that could speak. Save your money and skip this one!

Nothing To Be Afraid Of

[josephbrando · 3/10 · 21 September 2011]

When I first heard about the plot of the "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark" remake, I was disappointed that they decided to add the unnecessary element of a child to the story. Ironically, the portrayal of the daughter by Bailee Madison was one of the few highlights this movie had to offer. With all the creepy Gothic imagery, spiderwebs and shadows, this movie failed to create any of the suspense generated by the fairly moderate surroundings of the original. The CGI demons were absolutely ridiculous, and with complete certainty I can state that the raisin- faced-doll demons of the 40-year-old original TV movie were much creepier. Katie Holmes, although likable, must be one of the world's worst actresses, unable of conjuring up any emotion other then a perky turned up nose for all occasions. It is truly remarkable to see her constantly upstaged by the child actress in this film who forces you to believe everything she is feeling. I can only recommend this as a starter horror film for young children, or background TV while you pay your bills online - you won't miss anything.

This movie is not that bad

[snowman-31315 · 6/10 · 7 December 2019]

Theres alot of people who dont seem to understand how a scale of 1 to 10 works on imbd. I get if you didnt like it, i get if u didnt think it was scary, but if you give this a 1 then either you havnt seen very many movies or you dont know how bad some movies actually are. There were deffinatly problems with this one. The characters were pretty unlikable in fact i cant think of 1 character i cared about and yes the cgi faries were shown a bit much and wernt really that great but how many cgi horror movies actually worked great? They did have a creepy feel to them especially their voices beconing sally to come and play in the dark. The atmosphere was good the house was beautiful and was used very well the cinamatography was good the actors, while unlikable, were fine for the most part. The sound effects were all fine for this movie. All in all its probably not gona be on anyones top 10 but its worth a watch

All beauty and no brains

[CrazyCurlsChica · 3/10 · 3 September 2011]

The scenery of the film is breath-taking. The house is exquisite, and as always, del Toro does an immaculate job creating an ominous and foreboding mood. The scares in this movie are well thought out and are not the cheap thrills Hollywood has come to depend on, and the film did a good job building momentum.

However, that being said, the plot and its lack of logicality stop the film dead in its tracks. The stupidity of the film goes beyond the typical, "No, don't go in there!" that one typically expects in a horror film. The ridiculousness of the characters' actions makes this film frustrating and near impossible to appreciate.

I saw this film because I love "haunted house" films, I'm an old Katie Holmes fan from her Dawson's Creek Days, and I think Bailee Madison is adorable, and therefore, I'm awarding one point for each redeeming quality in the movie - 1) awesome scenery, 2) Katie Holmes, and 3) Bailee Madison.

House of Gothicism

[alexart-1 · 8/10 · 9 August 2011]

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is exactly the kind of horror movie you want to hate. It's a remake, it involves a child in peril, and it contains some (and I say "some") very nasty violence. Just watch--you'll have trouble hating it.

Guillermo del Toro's new collaborative effort with first-time director Troy Nixey is, simply put, horror done right. There's a lot here that can be found in any horror movie that comes out now, but this one succeeds for relying on tone and setting rather than blood and guts. The acting from all three leads is surprisingly good, and Nixey shines as well behind the camera.

However, at the heart of the film is a ballsy story co-written by del Toro that really keeps the film stable. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is originally based on a 1973 British TV movie that has been hailed as one of the scariest movies ever made. The remake features a new main character: Sally, a child, played by Bailee Madison. Sally moves into a new Gothic mansion with her father (Guy Pearce) and a new stepmother (Katie Holmes). There, she discovers a ventilation system where she hears breathy voices calling to play with her. At first, the voices are friendly. Then, they're vicious and violent.

The violence of the movie is one of the reasons why this movie succeeds so nicely. The first scene is grisly and is, without a doubt, the reason why Don't Be Afraid of the Dark earned its R-rating rather than its intended PG-13. There isn't constant violence. In fact, there isn't even that much of it. Most of it is bloodless, but all of it is enough to make us squeamish and afraid.

Another area in which the movie excels in that respect is its design. The mansion that Nixey and del Toro chose is gorgeous. The intense lighting, which Nixey noted as "inspired by Rembrandt" in the Q&A following the film, is moody and adds to the heavy tone of the movie. The house is just creepy on its own, but it becomes creepier thanks to the creature design. Unlike what the trailer tells you, the creatures are pretty tiny. What creeped me out about them was the loud, shrill screeches they let out. It'll give you chills. Keep a keen ear and listen for del Toro, as he voices a few of the creatures.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is a very fun and very creepy horror movie experience. Though not without its flaws, it has a strong story stabilized by good characters and a surprisingly dark ending, and it's got some good acting too. It's hard not to be absorbed in the mesmerizing light pools of the mansion, and it's even harder not to be entertained. As usual in del Toro films, darkness and unseen monsters reign, and as usual, it's pretty damn unnerving.

A beautifully made horror fairy tale

[bennettr-606-975112 · 7/10 · 8 April 2012]

I'm not sure why this movie is attracting such average reviews? Perhaps it's because it's not as good as the original, a movie I've never seen? Or maybe viewers were expecting a goretastic horror flick, with buckets of blood and walls splattered with entrails?

Regardless, I was pleasantly surprised by this wonderfully crafted flick. Like many Guillermo films it's got the whole "slightly creepy fantasy story" ambiance to it. I couldn't fault the movie's super slick production values, with exquisite sets and wonderful acting, especially Bailee Maddison's amazing performance. She's going to go far.

My only complaint are the occasional "As if they'd do that..." moments, but show me a horror movie that doesn't have one or two of those and I'll eat my DVD collection. Overall a great film for those looking for a traditional monster film that's usually very creepy, occasionally very scary, and always well made.

Soon descends into CGI nonsense

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 15 October 2013]

The idea behind DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK has potential. It's a remake of one of those classic 1970s TV horrors with Guillermo del Toro as one of the scriptwriters, no less. It starts off with potential, featuring a leading role from Guy Pearce (always a favourite) and some great set design and dressing in the form of a huge, crumbling old mansion complete with hidden rooms and passageways.

And slowly, bit by bit, the potential ebbs away, leaving this a soulless and artificial experience. It ends up being overexposed and under-written, a jumble of pointless scare sequences and endless CGI nonsense as the inhabitants of the household are repeatedly put at the mercy of some unwelcome critters. In some ways it's like a modern day GREMLINS, and it has a very childish feel to it despite the adult rating. There are parallels to other del Toro fare like PAN'S LABYRINTH but this is nowhere near that kind of calibre. The only thing it makes me want to do is track down the original.

The film I most likened it to was, in fact, an obscure early '90s B-movie called LITTLE DEVILS: THE BIRTH, which was much better in terms of pure, unashamed fun - the effects were better too. DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK is just lazy, with cheesy CGI and only one good scare all the way through. Finally, the cast is underwhelming: Pearce is a sleepwalker, Katie Holmes embarrassed, and Bailee Madison once of the most irritating child actors I've seen in a while. Still, at least Pearce got to team up with NEIGHBOURS' Alan Dale (aka Jim Robinson) for a couple of scenes...

A real missed opportunity

[zoydbond · 2 October 2011]

Well. Where to start?

This is a film that starts badly, and save two relatively well executed scenes, gets worse. If you have seen the original seventies TV movie you will be sorely disappointed. What made the original frightening was the bareness of the plot, the ordinariness of the location and the bleakness of the ending. All of these elements have been removed. The story is over written, the location of overly ornate, and the ending, although quite nasty, is not as disturbing as it should have been. Add to this the frankly deplorable CGI and iffy direction. Well...

The kid is good though (that's where the 4 points comes from)

Verdict: Don't be afraid of avoiding don't be afraid of the dark

Very Enjoyable (ermm, so says me)

[wcameronmartin · 7/10 · 4 January 2012]

Sam, Tyler & I just finished watching "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark."

It is the 2010 version of this movie with Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce.

To be perfectly honest, I was not expecting much from this film.

...especially ( especially!) after watching the opening sequence, which was far too violent, by my estimation.

That is to say, I do not have a problem with movies that are extremely violent in nature; when priorly, I've foreknowledge this is the type of film genre I am attending...

After viewing the opening and closing sequences, I stand by this opinion. To me, the movie's story is rich enough on its own without having to attempt to appeal to the lowest common denominator of genre-hopping-ticket-sales.

Oddly enough, I was extremely surprised to log onto the IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/) And learn that my estimation of this film was so far off the general public's opinion.

Usually, I am able to guess-timate mass ticket appeal of a given film; however, having genuinely enjoyed the movie, I was way off-base. According to the public ranking on IMDb.com, the movie was only awarded 5 stars, out of 10 when I, myself, would have approximates a mass public opinion in the proximity of 6.5 to seven.

Anyway, if you enjoy suspense and are able to avert your eyes during two especially gory scenes, you will find this movie very appealing.

Wes Craven's "They" meets "The Haunting" in impressive horror.

[JimmyCollins · 7/10 · 30 September 2011]

Im not overly familiar with Guillermo Del Toro but from what i hear his work is usually extremely dark and atmospheric, and after watching this movie i see how this fits that description perfectly. The story is a remake of an old British TV movie which i haven't seen but would love too, I'm sure it is excellent, much like this remake.

The horror elements are quite a bit different, instead of just being ghosts in the eerily dark and foreboding house its something else, which i wont say because if you're reading this review you are probably going to watch the movie and i will let you find out for yourself, i will say that they are genuinely creepy little horrors.

The acting in very good in this film, Bailee Madison is easily this generations Dakota Fanning, each movie i see this little dynamite actress in she is better and better, and Katie Holmes is also quite impressive as the woman who is desperately trying to help this poor disturbed child.

One thing that is great about the film is it's extremely dark ending, it could have gone for something cliché and cheesy but instead goes for something very intriguing and different.

So if you enjoy dark, dreary and cold films which are out of the norm for the horror genre, this one is for you... Exceptional. :)

Dumb adults as always

[draftdubya · 3/10 · 27 January 2022]

They have their heads so far up each other bums that they barely paid any attention to the little girl Sally. Katie Holmes should've been the birth mother since the girl looks like she could be her real kid.

Decent in its own right, but misses the point of the source material

[jmbovan-47-160173 · 6/10 · 17 October 2020]

This is a decent film that captures a certain idea of fear and dread while hitting all the tropes of a child in peril film (i.e. danger that the adults don't see or believe, peculiar child creates her own doubt from her "odd" behaviors, etc.). But, this film seems to have a particular need to have a concrete reason for the supernatural elements, as well as expose the creatures to create fright and scares. This seems to miss the point of the source material that created dread from the idea of something happening. But, oh well. Visually rich film with decent acting to create enough of a film to watch. It doesn't live up to the original film given the specialness that it created.

Nice horror ghost flick...

[kamalbeeee · 6/10 · 31 May 2020]

This movie unique frm other ghost movie but still scares us... Tat small girl kid acted soo well and climax was soo sad...whole movie only few characters but not boring..

A Lame Screenplay, Despite the Participation of Guillermo del Toro

[claudio_carvalho · 5/10 · 18 February 2012]

In Rhode Island, the interior designers Alex (Guy Pearce) and his girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes) welcome Alex's nine year daughter Sally (Bailee Madison) that was sent by her mother to live with Alex. The couple brings Sally to the manor of the painter Emerson Blackwood (Garry McDonald), who had disappeared with his son many years ago, and Alex has invested all his money in the mansion expecting to be promoted in his business with the restoration of the house.

Sally rejects Kim and feels lonely in the mansion and while walking on the real estate, she finds that the manor has a hidden basement. Alex's employee William Harris (Jack Thompson), who is a descendant of Blackwood, warns Sally to never go to the basement but the girl overhears voices in the ash pit calling her. However Sally brings a wrench and removes the bolts of the ash pit cover. Sooner Sally finds that evil creatures that fear the light have escaped from the underground through the ash pit and are threatening her. However, Alex and Kim believe that it is only her imagination.

"Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" is a remake of a 1973 film that I have never seen. The cinematography and the performance of the girl Bailee Madison are great. Unfortunately the lame screenplay has many plot holes and, for example, the disappearance of Kim and the weird events that the guests have witnessed have no consequence in the end of the story.

The DVD has interviews and behind stage footages and it is visible the interference of Guillermo del Toro in the direction. Unfortunately his participation is not enough to save this film. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Não Tenha Medo do Escuro" ("Don't Be Afraid of the Dark")

Don't Be Afraid of Negative Reviews! See the movie!

[davecsanders · 8/10 · 27 August 2011]

Like Guillermo del Toro and countless other kids, I saw the original Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973) on TV and lost some sleep to visions of goblins in the midnight shadows. This remake pays perfect tribute to its anscestor film, while reinventing the story with the dark fairy tale depth which del Toro is known for. The director, Troy Nixey, avoids pointless gore or boo scenes, using his cinematic tools wisely to build toward the inevitable critical mass. The creators of the film realize it is not the shock of things we see, but rather what is implied and left to imagination. Like the best horror films, simple elements blend to evoke emotions. Shadows swirl against a mansion as eerie as the Overlook Hotel, and the perfectly cast trio of Sally (Bailee Madison), Kim (Katie Holmes), and Alex (Guy Pearce) endure torments therein. Much has already been made of amazing young Bailee Madison and Pearce is solid as a man driven by career pressure, but Holmes--not a favorite of mine--is surprisingly agile in the role of the awkward girlfriend. Much like Naomi Watts in The Ring (2002), she plays a believable protector. Marco Beltrami's music sounds old school and builds up the Gothic art and sets well. The cinematography by Oliver Stapleton is dark and at times borders on dank and drab, but serves the story well. I would not ruin the succulent scares with spoilers, but suffice to say that the creators manage to expand the tale by linking the wicked imps of the movie to folklore and traditions (tooth fairies). Key scenes, such as a dinner, are clear homages to the original, and the finale pays the piper with Grimm satisfaction. Despite sometimes weak CGI, this movie honors its creepy roots with style. Other reviews have been moderate to harsh, and I suspect the reviewers expected something more akin to Pan's Labyrinth. Nevertheless, if you like crafty and creepy horror films, see Don't Be Afraid of the Dark in a dark theater!

Scary? No. Entertaining? For the most part, yes

[davispittman · 7/10 · 30 June 2016]

Don't be afraid of the dark is apparently a remake of an old made for TV movie, had no clue it was, but that's just some background for ya. First I would like to praise the cast and acting, both were very good I thought. First of all Katie Holmes was great in the film and I really thought she was the best part, she was touching in some scenes and then very serious and dramatic in others, which was called for. Then there's Bailee Madison, who is our star, I thought she showed impressive acting skills for her age, if she chooses I'm sure that a Hollywood career could be in her future. She was very focused and very centered in her role, and I was actually really impressed that her performance wasn't cheesy or over-the-top. Guy Pearce was all right, but to be honest, I think that just about anyone could've played his role and done well with it/fit it. Now the CGI little creatures the crawl around and terrorize throughout the film were a little lackluster looking and it just wasn't scary at all. I really was hoping that don't be afraid of the dark would have some scariness to it and maybe some creepiness, but it seems to me that the only creepy parts were the very beginning and the very ending scenes. But I think the reason I liked it better than I probably thought I would have is because of Katie Holmes and Bailee Madison, they really just made up for what the movie was lacking, not all of it though. I had to take off points for the lack of creepiness/scariness and the CGI creatures that ultimately disappointed. Overall this gets a 7/10.

like a comedy was advertised as a horror

[MikesIDhasbeentaken · 4/10 · 5 March 2012]

I saw the adverts, and thought 'this looks good!' What i didn't know, was that the adverts covered what the actual film was about, and when, while watching the film, you find out what the monsters are, I almost laughed.

Tiny little half pint sized sprites struggling to hold up nail clippers on the attack! it is probably the only 'haunted house' film i've seen where i'd think, i'll buy it anyway, and set some mouse traps down in the basement, problem solved.

I've not seen the original of this film, and i'm sure this film has ruined the original series, and will try to watch with an open mind. This film tho, very disappointing, considering the trailers looked so promising.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Movie Review

[staff-577-378882 · 26 August 2011]

Every so often a movie comes along that changes an entire genre and becomes something more than just movie, but this is not that movie. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is a remake of a 1970's film of the same name. Guillermo Del Toro, famous for Pan's Labyrinth, brings us this modern update along with new director Troy Nixey. The movie tells the story of a young girl named Sally that moves in with her architect father and girlfriend Kim who are remodeling an old mansion. Soon after arriving the girl opens a doorway that unleashes a group of small monsters that attempt to kidnap her and eat her teeth!

First thing I should tell you is that the movie isn't that scary. What the movie focuses on instead is telling a good story that relies heavily on atmosphere. One of the best parts of the film is the mansion that they life in. What's interesting is how the mansion is treated almost like a character in that with all the construction that the mansion is undertaking, it changes throughout the movie. Starting from as an old building that holds secrets to a completely renovated mansion that is more than what it seems. From a comfy lit room to a dim lit nightmare, the mansion becomes the perfect set piece. I must give credit to the director for the attention to detail in every set and the eerie coldness that the movie makes you feel.

The acting is good but nothing to write home about. Katie Holmes does a fine job playing Kim, the interior decorator and love interest. Guy Pearce does an amazing job playing a father you really want to strangle at the end of the movie and Bailee Madison does a good job playing Sally. The little creatures, which are all CG done look fantastic in the film, which is something expected when I see the name Guillermo Del Toro attached to the film.

While everything sounds good and great and the movie does a great job at being a good classic horror movie with the usual or unusual twist ending, I still have a problem with the movie that is more an issue with the genre. That problem I have stems from the utter stupidity from the characters in the film. If some little monsters try and attack you or someone you know why wouldn't you do everything in your power to stay away from the house or at the very least be with someone at all times? Why is it that once everything is going to hell that all the characters decide to split up instead of forming a party? I mean seriously, it just pains me to believe that all these characters could be so very stupid. You know the little monsters are there but you still decide it would be a great idea to take a shower at night? Seriously?

OK, I think my little rant is done. Overall I enjoyed the film even though I am not a big fan of horror movies and I think that if you want to see a horror film is that more creepy than scary than Don't Be Afraid of the Dark will satisfy your needs.

Written by Steve Cienfuegos for MovieFloss.com

Better Than Some of the Reviews

[Stipe-3 · 7/10 · 20 September 2011]

I've read a number of reviews stating that this movie just isn't "scary" and some have recommended other films (such as Insidious) for a good jump, instead. Perhaps, these reviews are right. Then again, del Toro isn't one for making overly-horrific movies, so comparing his films with other slasher movies is like comparing apples and oranges.

While del Toro turned the directing over to a newcomer, his writing and producing still lend to his style and fans of Pan's Labyrinth shouldn't be disappointed as this isn't a ghost story, but rather one of del Toro's messed up fairy tales.

Overall, the story was solid, in my opinion, but the editing was sloppy at times, which did detract from the overall flow of it. The ending was disappointing and did leave one wondering about the relationship of Guy Pearce and Katie Holmes characters. I will disagree with other reviews that liked Guy Pearce's performance, as I thought this was his worst since The Time Machine. The young girl, however, was very convincing and stood out amongst the average acting of the rest of the cast.

All in all, this film was very much a "del Toro film" and while it had some errors, I found it to be entertaining.

I am not afraid of the dark

[shantsalkhorian · 6/10 · 26 August 2011]

Before I begin my review I must say, I am a big Del Toro fan! I love his work, although this did not seem like his best. I went into the theater with a great positive attitude towards the film, that positive attitude did not last very long. I found some major flaws in the script, a few scenes were dragged on too long for pointless reasons. I did have "fun" watching this film but that is not a word that should be used in a horror film review. So they did not succeed with this "scary movie" in my opinion. The acting was great and I loved the whole idea of the story, just was not executed good.

I am somewhat disappointed in this film and do not recommend it. There are dozens of other films that are much more "scary" and just as "fun". Keep that in mind and skip this film. I give Don't Be Afraid of the Dark a 6 out of 10 for some good acting and a few nice set of screams! Skip this one or wait to rent it.

Honest review, no spoilers. Recommend for beginners in horror :)

[johnwk-61334 · 6/10 · 26 May 2020]

If you're a hard core horror junkie, this movie is not for you. However I do recommend this movie for beginners as you could learn a few things from this movie and where it failed in some places. I did not see the original and didn't know what to expect, but if you did see the original I'm pretty sure you do know what to expect. I'm sure you read the description of the movie so I'm not going to talk about a lot here. Obviously this is a creature feature so expect some CGI, honestly for being 2010 it was very well done in my opinion. The house this movie is filmed in is very stunning and quite gorgeous, Guillermo del Toro, as co-director and first-time director, Troy Nixie both contributed to this movie. And I believe that Troy did well for his first film. This movie is currently rated R, however I believe that is because of one scene in particular which is not terrible, it's covered up but you knew what happened and is quite disturbing. Other than that it's just some violence and very little blood, without that one scene it would be PG-13. Which goes to show that a good horror movie doesn't have to be outrageously gore-y and have stupid jump scares to be scary. Now the acting is okay in my opinion and the girl playing as Sally was phenomenal, she showed true fear in the camera. The plot is slow and a little bit predictable, but I believe, to enjoy this movie, you should be focused on the setting, mood of the film and the visuals. The character development was small but really started to show towards the end. Now the end... it's a creative one and one that's open ended. In my opinion it could've been better but again it's creative and is supposed to make the viewers use their imagination. Overall I really liked this movie, there was a lot that could be fixed and tweaked to make it much better but it was a pleasant visual experience. If you are new to horror give this movie a try and maybe research about the elements horror and what makes a movie scary, if you do I believe you'd understand why some people dislike this movie and where this movie faltered in some places like I mentioned at the beginning. I hope this was helpful in some way and a review to skim over without any key spoilers.

Not much of a horror flick

[wyldeboyy · 2/10 · 25 January 2012]

Not much of a "horror" movie except for a few good 'taken-by-surprise' moments. The plot is simple and I'd say this would make a good 'sleepover movie' for some 12 year old girls.

The locations are beautiful what ever said and done. Love the house and the garden.

Too much CGI and exposure of the creatures. They run about and expose themselves thus revealing a lot of themselves, making it look like one of those Disney's children's horror flicks, you know what I mean!

Acting is actually good. It's just the poor plot, plot holes and way too much CGI is what ruins the movie. Could have done a better job but nonetheless, this would make a good children's horror movie.