Summary

Don't be afraid of the dark, shows great promise, being a remake of a classic 1970s TV horror, and benefiting from the involvement of esteemed scriptwriter Guillermo del Toro. The film starts off strongly, with the talented Guy Pearce in a leading role and impressive set design, featuring a decaying mansion filled with hidden rooms and passageways. However, as the story unfolds, the initial potential gradually wanes, resulting in a hollow and forced experience. The movie becomes overly reliant on excessive scares and CGI effects, losing its focus and subjecting the characters to repetitive torment by unwelcome creatures. In some ways, it takes on a childish atmosphere despite its adult rating, reminiscent of a contemporary version of GREMLINS. While there are certain similarities with del Toro's other works like PAN'S LABYRINTH, it fails to reach the same level of excellence. Instead of leaving the audience eager to explore this rendition further, it only ignites the urge to seek out the original version.