By Robert Yaniz Jr.

Even fans who typically scoff at PG-13 horror will have to concede to this genuinely scary tale.

THE HYPE

Before Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark hit theaters, I had essentially zero familiarity with the Alvin Schwartz-penned book series. However, when anything remotely resembling a creature feature bears Guillermo del Toro, my interest is immediately piqued. Armed with just del Toro’s name and some online buzz about how this film ostensibly “for kids” truly went for the scares, I thought I was prepared for anything to happen. Yet, even then, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark managed to surprise.

THE STORY

A group of teens venture into a supposedly haunted house and unknowingly awaken an evil that begins to plague them. That premise alone could apply to a number of family-friendly “scary” movies, such as Disney’s cult classic Hocus Pocus or the underrated 2006 animated Monster House. But early on — during the sequence featuring the scarecrow that so ominously presides over the film’s poster — Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark proves that it is far from the soft horror film many assumed it would be. More than that, the supernatural elements belie the true strength of the narrative, which centers on the very real fears the central characters aim to escape.

THE CAST

Young actors can sometimes be a blight, as their limited experience becomes something the film needs to overcome. In the case of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, its lead cast of virtual unknowns is one of its greatest assets. In particular, Zoe Colletti — who plays aspiring horror author Stella — captures all the innocence and terror that comes with adolescence. With only a few feature films behind her, Colletti’s performance here makes her one to watch. Likewise, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, Austin Zajur and Natalie Ganzhorn shine as the other members of the film’s core cast.

THE PRODUCTION

A Norwegian filmmaker best known for 2010’s cult classic Troll Hunter,  director André Øvredal and his team bring such a high level of craftsmanship to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. The cinematography by Roman Osin, the score from Marco Beltrami and Anna Drubich and especially the creature effects create a horrific environment where the characters simply don’t feel safe. It’s almost as if someone forgot to tell the filmmakers that their film is intended for a younger audience. As a result, an overwhelming sense of dread permeates the whole production, as it should.

THE VERDICT

While its premise and characters fall neatly into genre archetypes, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark transcends these limitations in its commitment to legitimate scares, its promising young cast and a revolving door of monsters that will haunt you long after the credits have rolled. Some will say Øvredal’s film follows in the tradition of classic terrifying “kids’ movies” like The Witches and Something Wicked This Way Comes. Meanwhile, others will group it with more grown-up fare like Insidious, Poltergeist and Lights Out. However you want to classify it, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is definitely one that deserves to worm its way into your annual Halloween viewing schedule.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark stars Zoe Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, Austin Zajur, Natalie Ganzhorn and Austin Abrams and is directed by André Øvredal.