Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973)

So much average

People are voting emotionally.

Great Film overall

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

A trip of tiny gnome-like creatures who reside inside the fireplace of a big old mansion decide they want to bring young lass Sally (a fine and sympathetic performance by Kim Darby) into their secret netherworld.Director John Newland keeps the absorbing story moving at a steady pace, does an ace job of creating and sustaining a supremely spooky atmosphere, makes the most of the sprawling large house main location, and grounds the fantastic premise in a believable everyday reality. Nigel McKeand's intelligent and intriguing script wisely keeps things pleasingly ambiguous right until the very chilling end; you're never quite sure why exactly these little goblins are after Sally or what they plan to do to Sally once they get their clawed hands on her. The excellent acting by the sturdy cast helps a lot: Jim Hutton as Sally's insensitive careerist husband Alex, Barbara Anderson as Sally's loyal and concerned best gal pal Joan Kahn, William Demarest as amiable handyman Mr. Harris, and Pedro Armendariz Jr. as likable interior designer Francisco Perez. Felix Silla, Patty Maloney, and Tama De Treaux portray the creepy and diminutive monsters who prowl about in the dark and speak in scary whispers ("Sally, we want you"). Both Billy Goldenberg's spare shivery score and Andrew Jackson's sharp, yet shadowy cinematography further enhance the overall eerie mood. Worthy of its cult classic status.

A young couple, Alex (Hutton) and Sally (Darby) move into the Gothic old house of Sally's grandmother. Alex wants a new place but Sally insists on keeping it along with the old handyman Mr. Harris (Demerest). Poking around in the basement Sally comes across a bricked up fireplace she wants opened by Mr. Harris. He warns her, telling her that he bricked it up himself 20 years ago and it should stay that way. Sally gets it open and unknowingly releases murderous little goblins that were imprisoned inside. The creatures soon make their presence known, but only to Sally. She starts to doubt her own mind and everyone she tells doesn't believe her. The goblins attack Sally and whisper to her throughout the house in repeated fashion. They need Sally's soul and plan on killing her to get it. Filled with gobs of atmosphere, this scary TV movie was a late night staple scaring many young horror fans. The movie works on all levels even though we really never get to understand the Goblins and their reason for existence. Solid Directing from John Newland makes you forget you're watching a TV movie. Newland uses the whispering goblins to great effect and keeps them under wraps until a revealing Dinner party scene when we see the first one clearly in shocking and scary fashion. The Goblins talk of 'harming her' and 'wanting to' which will raise goose bumps in the early scenes. The nasty goblins get under Sally's skin and the audience's as well. Another memorable scene is when the creatures stalk Sally as she is taking a shower. All though the end loses a little steam the short running time and solid pacing makes up for that including an unexpected final scene that is so off beat it leaves the viewer with one last great chill! Composer Billy Goldenberg's musical score is very effective and helps a lot as well. This strange hybrid mix of Haunted House and Creature movie supplies many chills along with atmosphere and real scares that should entertain most horror fans.

This was the film that gave nightmares to a whole generation of children, who were afraid of what might be in the closest, behind the door, or under the bed: mysterious and evil little creatures who laugh maniacally to each other as they plan to harm a young newlywed couple(played by Jim Hutton & Kim Darby) who have moved into their home, after the wife foolishly opens the grate in the cellar, releasing them from their underground prison.Though short in length, and threadbare on character development and plot detail, this creates an unsettling mood of fear, and atmosphere of dread, that it overcomes these issues to be an effective little gem; and of course there is that ending, the stuff of said nightmares...

Made for TV movie from the 70's about to get a glossy makeover. For a TV movie, this is wonderful stuff. They keep the number of characters low, use just a handful of settings, and concentrate on developing a twisted little atmosphere. It was complete in 2 weeks, but you could never tell. The little creatures are eerie and original without being comical. Things are whispered, things are moved, people are attacked, but it carries it off by keeping most things low key. The use of simple panning shots and quiet editing, makes it a film that builds tension with ease. If you are open to less obvious horror, with a love of practical effects, you should find a lot in this mini-treat.