The promise of the premise belies the fact that not only is this a TV movie, but a production that originally aired on ABC. That's no especial guarantor of quality, though I think it does color expectations a bit: the film reflects some outdated social values and stereotypes, and the development of odd goings-on is so low-key that if released theatrically, this would surely have been rated PG. Once we do see the creatures at the heart of the film - well, I suppose I admire the simple costume design, but there's no small amount of kitsch behind 'Don't be afraid of the dark.'
Effects are questionable, character writing is thin, and performances strike me as mostly just suitable. Only Kim Darby, as beleaguered housewife Sally, demonstrates any small measure of nuance that marks her portrayal distinct from those of her costars. That said, even as it plays on classic anxieties about what lurks in the dark, and paranoid fears of dank cellars, the material that Darby or anyone else has to work with is light, so there's only so much to be done with it.
Even with the creatures on hand, one could feasibly also describe this at least in part as psychological horror, given the focus on Sally and her state of mind. But that aspect, too, is constrained by the nature of the production. I try to bear in mind the context of the timeframe and distribution; even so, in my mind the concept would have benefited greatly from more robust realization in every regard - more liveliness, more eventfulness. As it is, 'Don't be afraid of the dark' is somewhat middling.
None of this is to say it's bad. I think the climax in particular is aptly unsettling, and in fact so well done as to lift the film from the edge of mediocrity. One just needs to temper their expectations, because while the morbidly fun notion that draws us in bears fruit, it's mostly less delicious and than it is merely nutritious. 'Don't be afraid of the dark' is fine, medium-value, family-friendly horror; don't go out of your way, but it's worth checking out if you come across it.
Effects are questionable, character writing is thin, and performances strike me as mostly just suitable. Only Kim Darby, as beleaguered housewife Sally, demonstrates any small measure of nuance that marks her portrayal distinct from those of her costars. That said, even as it plays on classic anxieties about what lurks in the dark, and paranoid fears of dank cellars, the material that Darby or anyone else has to work with is light, so there's only so much to be done with it.
Even with the creatures on hand, one could feasibly also describe this at least in part as psychological horror, given the focus on Sally and her state of mind. But that aspect, too, is constrained by the nature of the production. I try to bear in mind the context of the timeframe and distribution; even so, in my mind the concept would have benefited greatly from more robust realization in every regard - more liveliness, more eventfulness. As it is, 'Don't be afraid of the dark' is somewhat middling.
None of this is to say it's bad. I think the climax in particular is aptly unsettling, and in fact so well done as to lift the film from the edge of mediocrity. One just needs to temper their expectations, because while the morbidly fun notion that draws us in bears fruit, it's mostly less delicious and than it is merely nutritious. 'Don't be afraid of the dark' is fine, medium-value, family-friendly horror; don't go out of your way, but it's worth checking out if you come across it.