Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark

The marks of Guillermo Del Toro abound in the poorly titled horror flick Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark. It has a child’s imagination being the catalyst for a series of frights that may or may not be real. And it features evil coming from small creatures and small spaces.

But despite some thematic similarities, this is no Pan’s Labyrinth, the 2006 fantasy that earned Del Toro an Oscar nomination for its screenplay. Instead, this film stumbles because it doesn’t leave enough to the imagination.

Del Toro is only a co-writer and producer for this project. The direction comes via a rookie protege, Troy Nixey, who embraces the ominous visuals of the haunted-house genre yet lacks enough subtle touches to generate more than the occasional chill.

The story follows Sally (Bailee Madison), a lonely young girl who moves in with her father (Guy Pearce) and his fiancee (Katie Holmes) in an isolated 19^th century Rhode Island mansion they are restoring together. But it isn’t long before the precocious girl’s curiosity gets the best of her.

She discovers a cavernous basement that was previously sealed off, then hears voices and envisions an army of rodent-like creatures who apparently want to claim her as a prisoner. When a handyman (Jack Thompson) turns up dead as part of a series of sinister events, the withdrawn Sally must convince her father that her visions are real and she’s not simply acting out.

Thankfully, the film is free of 3D gimmicks and generally stays away from cheap thrills. It manages a few genuinely chilling sequences, including one in which Sally is forced to confront the creatures amid falling books in a giant library. Madison (Just Go with It) has a creepy array of facial expressions that help to sell her character’s plight.

The territory feels familiar, from the setting in a rural mansion to the parents who deny everything until it’s too late, which is why the film fails to establish much consistent suspense.

Perhaps the best way to enjoy Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark is to decrease expectations. It’s a trifle that proves mildly unsettling but won’t cause any lasting nightmares.

Rated R, 99 minutes.