Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (2010)

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Guillermo del Toro presents this creepy tale about a little girl (Bailee Madison) who discovers evil creatures live in the ash pit beneath her father’s newly acquired mansion. While the creatures try to persuade the girl to join them, they frame her for destructive deeds, turning her dad (Guy Pearce) and his girlfriend (Katie Holmes) against her. As the girl falls into despair trying to make the grownups believe her, Holmes begins to suspect there might be something to the girl’s claims about the creatures — something documented by the painter who originally lived in the mansion generations ago. And if the legends are true, the eternal creatures won’t stop until they can feast upon the teeth of a new victim.

Del Toro and director Troy Nixey fill this remake of a 1970s TV movie with sumptuous production design and art direction. Bailee Madison gives a stellar performance as the besieged girl, capturing all the heartache of a child who feels isolated, unloved, and untrusted. Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce are equally committed, creating a compelling portrait of a family in turmoil. And the creatures? The filmmakers keep them in the shadows just long enough, and when they finally present themselves, they do not disappoint. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark tries to explain itself just a smidge too much in the second half, and the creatures’ motivations are confusing at times, but with ample creepiness and an emotionally involving screenplay, it’s definitely worth checking out.