Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)

3.5 Stars ✨

“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” is based on the children’s horror book by Alvin Schwartz. The film is adapted in a way that showcases some of the popular stories found in the book, but with a bigger plot to tie them all together. It’s an interesting way to bring the stories to life, but it is done well.

The film is directed by Andre Ovredal with Guillermo del Toro working behind the scenes as well, we are taken back in time to 1968. The events unfold in a small farming community in Pennsylvania. The main protagonists start their journey on Halloween night after hiding from the town bullies at their local drive in.

Stella (Zoe Margaret Colletti) and her best friends Auggie (Gabriel Rush) and Chuck (Austin Zajur) dress up and head out for a night of tricks. Their plan is to play a trick on the town bully Tommy  (Austin Abrams). Their trick goes off without a hitch, but unwittingly Chuck’s older sister Ruth (Natalie Ganzhorn) is caught in the crossfire. She has agreed to go on a date with Tommy and is in the car when the trick is played. Stella, Auggie and Chuck run to the drive in theatre and end up the car belonging to Ramon (Michael Garza) in an effort to hide from Tommy. Tommy finds the friends, but Ramon is able to fend him off. From there, the group of four head to the town’s boarded up haunted house.

Stella reveals that the former inhabitants had a daughter named Sarah Bellows who was sent to an insane asylum where she eventually died. Legend says that if you ask Sarah to tell you a story, it’s the last story you will ever hear. Tommy finds the friends and locks them in the basement and while the boys are trying to find a way out, Stella takes Sarah’s book of stories and asks to be told one. After the protagonists escape the house, one by one they (and everyone inside the house including Tommy and Ruth) become subjects in Sarah’s story book which Stella finds she can’t get rid of or destroy it.

The scary stories Sarah is writing are the scary stories of the source material. They are incredibly well done. The first story is that of Harold the scarecrow who lives on Tommy’s cornfield and is a great introduction to the stories. All the stories take place in different parts of the town and the use of colors and the contrast between light and dark are the most effective tools in creating the atmosphere. As this film is aimed at the younger demographic, it is not too scary, but that doesn’t mean you won’t feel creeped out by the creatures the characters encounter.

The ending hints at a sequel. This isn’t a bad thing. There are sequels to the book after all. That does mean though, that the film has an open ended ending. The film has a great climax, but the film doesn’t wrap up as nicely as you would like. I’m not personally bothered by this, but I know many people do want a clear ending. I appreciate what this film accomplished. I’m also looking forward to more.

I think that “Scary Stories” handled the source material well. It took it in an interesting direction that I felt overall worked well. I applaud the filmmakers for making a scary movie for younger audiences especially because it relies so much on atmosphere to scare the audience rather than constant jump scares and unnecessary amounts of blood and gore.