Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2010 film)

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
In a red lit room, shadows of a group of clawed creatures' Arma reach towards a little girl.
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTroy Nixey
Screenplay by
Based onDon't Be Afraid of the Dark
by Nigel McKeand
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyOliver Stapleton
Edited byJill Bilcock
Music by
Production
companies
  • Miramax
  • Necropia Entertainment
  • Gran Via Productions
Distributed by
Release dates
  • November 6, 2010 (2010-11-06) (Virginia Film Festival)
  • August 26, 2011 (2011-08-26) (United States)
Running time
99 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • Australia
  • Mexico
LanguageEnglish
Budget$25 million[2][1]
Box office$38.3 million[1]

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is a 2010 dark fantasy horror film written by Guillermo del Toro and Matthew Robbins, and directed by Troy Nixey in his feature directorial debut. It is a remake of the 1973 ABC made-for-television film of the same name.[3] The film stars Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, and Bailee Madison, as a family moving into a 19th-century Rhode Island mansion, where the withdrawn daughter begins to witness malevolent creatures that emerge from a sealed ash pit in the basement of the house. Jack Thompson also stars in a supporting role. An international co-production between the United States, Australia, and Mexico, it was filmed at the Drusilla Mansion in Mount Macedon and Melbourne (both in Victoria, Australia).[4]

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark was released theatrically in the United States on August 26, 2011, by FilmDistrict. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Holmes, Pearce and Madison's performances, direction, atmosphere, and musical score, but criticized the lack of originality and jump scares. The film grossed $38.3 million against a $25 million budget.

  1. ^ a b c "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark – Box Office Data". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  2. ^ Kaufman, Amy (August 25, 2011). "Movie Projector: 'The Help' to brush off the competition again". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  3. ^ Fleming, Michael (May 6, 2009). "'Dark' days for Katie Holmes". Variety. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
  4. ^ "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark". The Age. Melbourne. November 4, 2011.