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Guillermo del Toro Producing Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Remake

by Alex Billington
July 30, 2008

Miramax and Guillermo del Toro will together produce a remake of the horror film Don't Be Afraid of the Dark that first aired on TV in 1973. Comic book artist and writer Troy Nixey will make his feature directorial debut with the film. Del Toro himself and his writing partner Matthew Robbins (Mimic) will be adapting the screenplay for the remake. The original film was directed by John Newland and gained a cult following after its debut and on VHS. The story follows a young girl who is sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend, only to discover that sinister creatures live underneath the stairs. If I remember correctly, this is movie that scared the crap out of me as a kid and here we are remaking it!

Development on the film is only at the very early stages, as they haven't begun any research on the monsters. However, Variety says that we can expect "an upscale creature feature along the lines of del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth, with an emphasis on distinctive characters in keeping with the Miramax slate." And for those that saw Hellboy II, the creatures were the best part, so maybe that's a good thing. Director Troy Nixey is the latest of Del Toro's mentors to be given his first gig, along with Spanish filmmaker Juan Antonio Bayona who directed the highly praised thriller The Orphanage. "It has always been a dream of mine to work on a project with Guillermo, my favorite filmmaker," Nixey said. "I had no idea it would be on my first one out. Miramax's faith in me is everything a first-time director could ask for."

Anyone who saw Orphanage will attest to the fact that Guillermo del Toro is as good of a producer as a filmmaker. I think he knows great talent when he sees it and I'm sure Nixey is the next talented filmmaker being given his big break. As for the film itself, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, let's just hope it will scare the living crap out of me as it did back when I was a kid. Anyone else already excited?

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Carlos

Sure, why not?
Aaron

yeah, this movie freaked me the hell out as a kid. wasn't the girl blind too or am i mixing it up with something else?
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

Rather see Scream 4 but this sounds cool.
Jesse

For a min there when I read the title I thought this was a movie version of the awesome Nick show "are you afrid of the Dark". I would love that movie. This, I've never heard of this movie.
Conrad

exited?
Jon

This movie has haunted me I guess for about 25 years. I wondered if it was as I remembered it. Being so young I wasn't sure of the name just that these creatures finally carried the girl into the vent. A few years ago I googled "carried into the vent" or something and finally found a post someone had left who like me was trying to get the name of this movie. I was glad to find it was real and had a name. The fact that it was made for TV was surprising but that's how I saw it. Too bad you can't get it on DVD. That was one of the horror movies that made me love horror for life. Very creepy ending.
rissu

This is probably the only movie that freaked me out as a kid -- with the grandfather from My Three Sons in it. I still remember every damned detail of that movie. Can't wait to see this remake.
Brad

This is the scariest movie I have ever seen! I saw it as a kid of 11 or 12, and it still makes that hair on the back of my neck stand up! S-a-l-l-y! I saw this as a kid and I'm afraid if I saw it as an adult it won't have the same impact due to old FX, so I am so glad that it is being re-done, and hopefully it will still scare the bejeeberz out of me.
Heatehr

"The original film was directed by John Newland and gained a cult following after its debut and on VHS. The story follows a young girl who is sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend, only to discover that sinister creatures live underneath the stairs. If I remember correctly, this is movie that scared the crap out of me as a kid and here we are remaking it" I know this movie well. The film was about a wife and husband that moved into the wife's deceased mother or grandmothers home. She opens up the fireplace that had been sealed and all hell breaks loose. Why are they saying its about a young girl that is "sent to live with her father and his girlfriend" Please someone help!? This is not a remake unless it has the same storyline!
Nailbiter

Right, there is no young girl in this movie. It's a husband and wife. I just watched it. You can download it on bit torrent if you are patient.... but no young girl! I loved it as a kid, but I have to say the special effects leave a lot to be desired. The monsters are about as scary as the ones at the local haunted house on Halloween. Check it out though.
Fisherr

Ohhh can't wait to see that.
chuck

People have kicked around this remake for YEARS. It's good that Guillermo del Toro is in charge of it. Obviously he's shifting a few elements around (father/daughter vs. husband/wife) but if he can keep the basic elements of isolation from people around you and doubt of your own sanity in it, he'll have a winner. The original was probably one of the best made-for-TV horror films EVER. And it wasn't a monster under the stairs in the original, but three little hagged out goblins who live in an old furnace....
Sandman

I so remember this when I was a kid and like the rest of you....it freaked me out too. I distinctly remember remember the string or wire across the dark steps scene. It took me a long time to walk down stairs again. I can't wait for the remake! Bring it on!!!!
Nick Mancini

You have the story wrong. It's about a man and women who move to a new house. They have little furry bodied, blue headed creatures with no mouths running around trying to steal the womans soul. The creatures were locked in a fireplace/furnace, the women wanted it open, the groundkeeper told her not to open it. Well, once she did, all the crap started happening.
Angelwings

Love the original but since they are deviating from the original story line, well, like all remakes they are never as good as the original. FYI, this movie is now available on DVD at Warner Brothers.