Tss5078 Production companies will do anything to get people to watch their movies, that's why the trailer almost always looks good, and the description on the back of the box is so eloquently written, but how often does the film live up to the hype? In the case of Fear of The Dark, it doesn't even come close! 12 year old, Ryan Billings (Jesse James), has an acute fear of the dark and his whole family thinks he's crazy. His parents rarely go out, but on one stormy night they decide to do so, leaving Ryan home alone with his older brother, Dale (Kevin Zegers), who comes to realize, his brother isn't so crazy after all. A creepy cover, a cool trailer, and an interesting description lead me to this film, even with the PG-13 rating. Some of the scariest supernatural horror film were rated PG-13, so i convinced myself, this would be a good choice. While the film has no affiliation with R.L. Stine, it is as much a Goosebumps tale as every other one of his stories. I was worried about the PG-13 rating, when the film doesn't even live up to that. How the company convinced the academy to give this film anything more than a PG rating is beyond me. Fear of The Dark has got to be the most tame and dull horror film I've ever seen. That being said, kids would absolutely love it, but it wasn't marketed to them and the creepy cover and PG-13 rating is exactly what would have kept them from this film. As for the performances, the two young actors were as you would expect, both Jesse James and Kevin Zegers, have look resumes as child actors and have done a ton of films like this and know exactly what their doing. Fear of The Dark is market towards teens and young adults when it should be in the children section. If you have kid, this is the kind of horror film you want them watching. As for me, I was utterly disappointed and shocked that a film like this would be marketed towards young adults.

red_green3377 Overall this was a very well done movie. Although i did feel as though i was watching the family channel at some parts it has everything you would want in a horror movie.I thought that the special effects could have been better. This movie gets you if you are one of those children who had a fear of things that go bump in the night. Overall it wasn't bad but it wasn't the best either so if you are looking for a movie to watch with your friend on Friday night and are open minded to the fact that this isn't the best graphics then sit back and prepare to jump and bite your nails down to the finger. I give this movie a 8 out of ten although maybe it deserves a little lower

suzlars First of all, you have to be a Horror Movie fanatic to appreciate this movie. It represents everything you felt as a kid about "the dark". I felt every single flinch, fear, and gasp, that the boys felt--just as I did when my parents went out every Friday night and left me and my sister alone.. I was on the edge through the whole movie, having to gasp for air...I love all those parts in horror movies where you're telling them to get out or not go into the room, but they do...And it makes you even less able to breathe. I loved the movie because I thrive on suspense & thriller movies, and that it depicted my adolescent Friday and Saturday nights left alone on stormy nights...But again, if you're not a horror & suspense movie fan, then why are you bothering to read this or even watch the movie?!!

mistermodern OK, now there are going to be two types of people who are going to watch this movie for the most part. One group is going to be watching this horror movie for buckets of blood and guts, ax wielding maniacs, supernatural creatures that come from hell, and the clichéd big breasted dumb teenagers in their panties, running around tripping over stuff while they are being chased by some murderer because they went BACK into the forest to check out some sound they heard. Then there are going to be people who are fans of horror movies that are basically looking for a good scare who don't mind using their minds to project what might be going on or a more psychological horror movie that relies on creating imagery that's not only freighting but scenes that are "jump out of your seat" scary. So if you are one of those people in the first group, skip this movie because you will not only be bored but also upset because almost none of that stuff is here. Now if you are one of those people in the second group you are going to love this movie. The story, acting, and special effects are very well done for straight to video B horror movie. This movie still shows that you don't need to be over the top to make a good horror movie. I can say that there is some great genuine scares that will make you jump out of your seat. The acting if well done even though it is basically a cast of nobody's, the special effect both CGI and make-up effects are great, and the overall story is one that you will remember because it preys on fears that all kids have had which is being scared of the dark. I think I know why some people also may have found this movie not scary because you really need the full effect. I would suggest that if you have a home theater with a Dolby Surround set up, use it! Because that added to this type of movie a lot, the music and sound effects really come alive when you watch a movie that's move psychological than a gross out flick. When you hear things coming from all corners it just makes a horror movie like this even better. It's not "The Others" or "Signs" but what it has to work with it does very well. It's not a perfect horror movie but I have to say it's one of the best straight to video horror flicks I have ever seen and it's definitely scarier than some of the most recent horror both straight to video as well as theater releases.