Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Mill Valley, Pennsylvania, Halloween night, 1968. After playing a joke on a school bully, Stella and her friends decide to sneak into a supposedly haunted house that once belonged to the powerful Bellows family, unleashing dark forces that they will be unable to control.
Why it matters
A nostalgic dive into late-’60s Americana that animates childhood fears through gorgeously grotesque creature effects and a haunted house mystery.
- Guillermo del Toro’s production imprint ensures standout practical and makeup effects that bring the Bellows family’s nightmares vividly to life.
- Perfect for fans of spooky, coming-of-age horror with a folk tale vibe, bridging adolescent scares and atmospheric dread.
- Its anthology-inspired structure nods to the original book’s format but opts for a narrative through-line, which may feel uneven but keeps the tension escalating.
- While the story can feel scattered and the resolution underwhelming, the escalating scare sequences and period detail offer a rewarding Halloween mood.
Director
Cast
Horror DNA
Gore
43
Slow Burn
17
Psychological
0
Supernatural
80
Creature
18
Disturbing
50
Fun Factor
50
Cerebral
71
Survival
50
