Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) is a horror film directed by André Øvredal, based on the beloved book series by Alvin Schwartz. The movie taps into the eerie folklore and nightmarish illustrations from the original stories, blending them into a cohesive narrative set in 1968 America, which adds a nostalgic, yet eerie backdrop.

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Plot and Structure

The film centers around a group of teenagers in the small town of Mill Valley who stumble upon a cursed book written by Sarah Bellows, a girl from a local haunted family. The book begins to write terrifying stories on its own, each targeting one of the teens. The horror escalates as the stories come to life, with each creature or situation drawn from the tales in Schwartz’s books.

While the source material is a collection of short horror stories, the movie unites them under a single, overarching plot. This structure is ambitious but sometimes uneven, as it occasionally struggles to balance character development with the need to incorporate the original stories.

Visuals and Atmosphere

The film shines when it comes to creature design and atmosphere. Guillermo del Toro, serving as a producer, brings his signature eye for monstrous detail to the table. The creatures—like the Pale Lady, Harold the scarecrow, and the Jangly Man—are memorable, and their grotesque designs evoke the unsettling illustrations from the original books.

The cinematography and set design are also notable, effectively evoking a sense of small-town dread and isolation. The film’s use of shadows, muted colors, and foggy landscapes creates an unsettling, oppressive mood that enhances the horror elements.

Themes

The film touches on larger societal issues like the impact of the Vietnam War and political unrest, using the horrors in the story as a metaphor for the chaos and fear of the era. Though these themes don’t always feel fully integrated, they add some depth to the narrative.

Performances

The performances, particularly from the young cast, are solid, with standout performances from Zoe Colletti as Stella and Michael Garza as Ramón. They provide emotional weight to the story, though some of the other characters feel underdeveloped, serving more as fodder for the scary sequences.

Scares and Tone

The film leans more into atmospheric dread and unsettling visuals than outright gore or jump scares. While this approach will appeal to fans of slow-burn horror, some viewers might find it less terrifying than they expected, given the intensity of the source material. However, the creature encounters—especially Harold the scarecrow and the Pale Lady—are genuinely chilling.

Final Thoughts

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a solid adaptation that balances nostalgia with a modern horror sensibility. It brings the iconic stories and creatures to life in a visually striking way, even if the overarching plot occasionally falters. Fans of the books will likely appreciate seeing these childhood nightmares come to life, while casual horror fans may find it an entertaining, though somewhat familiar, experience.