That 2010 horror flick 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' was actually a bit of a passion project for Guillermo del Toro, though he didn't direct it himself—he produced and co-wrote the script. The director's chair was occupied by Troy Nixey, who brought this creepy fairytale to life with that signature del Toro-esque vibe. Nixey's background in illustration really shows in the film's visual style; those shadowy corners and gnarly little creatures feel like they crawled straight out of a nightmare storybook.
What's wild is how this movie flew under the radar despite del Toro's involvement. It's got all his hallmarks—child protagonists facing ancient horrors, Gothic architecture dripping with atmosphere—but Nixey's direction gives it this clinical coldness that makes the scares hit differently. I always recommend it to folks who enjoyed 'The Orphanage' or 'Pan's Labyrinth' but want something meaner.
Troy Nixey directed 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark,' though most people assume Guillermo del Toro helmed it since his fingerprints are all over the production design. Fun trivia: Nixey was primarily known as a comic book artist before this—his graphic novel 'Jenny Finn' caught del Toro's eye. You can spot that illustrative sensibility in how the camera lingers on architectural details, turning the house into its own character. The film's divisive among horror fans; some find the pacing too slow, but I adore how it builds dread like tightening piano wire.
'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' marked Troy Nixey's feature debut after directing some award-winning shorts. While del Toro's influence is undeniable, Nixey carved his own identity with stark lighting and these abrupt, brutal scare sequences. The film's biggest strength is its creature design—those wrinkly, whispering demons still haunt my dreams. Shame we haven't seen more from Nixey since; he had such a distinct eye for practical horror effects.
The director credit goes to Troy Nixey, but let's be real—this feels like Guillermo del Toro's weird little cousin. Nixey brought this unsettling story about tooth-stealing gremlins to screens with this clinical precision that contrasts beautifully with del Toro's usual romantic horror style. What fascinates me is how it subverts haunted house tropes; the real monsters aren't ghosts but these ancient, foul-mouthed creatures straight from folklore. Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce deliver solid performances, though young Bailee Madison steals the show as the curious kid who unwittingly unleashes hell. It's one of those films that grows on you—the more you notice the subtle production details, the scarier it gets.
What do you do when you discover that your house is being haunted by a ghost?
Not just any ghost, your Great grandmother’s ghost!
You are all scared to death and there’s no way out of the house...
You just have to do whatever you can to survive!
This is a story about a fun happy large family in a haunted mansion with dark secrets.
Joe is a Doctor who comes to stay with the Johnsons, but he soon realizes that he had been living with the Wrong family.
He comes to love the family and instead of leaving, he decides to stay but that was his greatest mistake.
His time in the Wrong Dark house becomes filled with horrors beyond his worst nightmares!
"Jared and Laynie have been together for years. When Jared gets a great job opportunity in New York he uproots his and Laynie's life and moves out there. Laynie immediately notices Jared's change in personality. He becomes both emotionally and physically abusive towards her.One night, after what seems to be a break-in goes wrong, Jared wakes up in the hospital only to learn he has lost a year of his memories. This includes hurting the one person he swore he would protect with his life. Now Laynie and Jared must get back to who they were before everything went wrong and get to the bottom of the reason behind all the pain.Darkness is created by D.S. Tossell, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author."
Jared and Laynie have been together for years. When Jared gets a great job opportunity in New York he uproots his and Laynie's life and moves out there. Laynie immediately notices Jared's change in personality. He becomes both emotionally and physically abusive towards her.One night, after what seems to be a break-in goes wrong, Jared wakes up in the hospital only to learn he has lost a year of his memories. This includes hurting the one person he swore he would protect with his life. Now Laynie and Jared must get back to who they were before everything went wrong and get to the bottom of the reason behind all the pain.Darkness is created by D.S. Tossell, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
What is scarier than someone living in your walls? How about finding out the boy in the walls has seen a monster in there?
What will the Count's daughter and her two unusual friends do to protect her home?
Rated 12+ for light violence, kissing, sexual reference
"Let's play a game, let's find out if you live or die." Skilled with the ability to Astral Project, Jason finds himself trying to escape a mansion filled with demonic entities while also trying to save his bestfriend. Only the dead survive where the days are shorter and the nights are longer.
The 2010 remake of 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' is this creepy little horror gem that stuck with me long after the credits rolled. It follows Sally, a young girl sent to live with her dad and his new girlfriend in this gorgeous but eerie old mansion they're restoring. At first, it seems like Sally's just acting out due to the divorce, but nope—turns out the house has these tiny, vicious creatures living in the basement who whisper to her, messing with her head. They want to drag her into their world, and the adults keep dismissing her fears until it's almost too late.
The film's strength is how it blends psychological horror with classic monster scares. The creatures are these grotesque, fairy-tale-gone-wrong things, and the way they manipulate Sally is downright unsettling. It’s not just jump scares; there’s a real sense of dread as the adults’ skepticism leaves her isolated. The ending’s bleak, too—no easy wins here. It’s a solid pick if you like horror that lingers, though I wish they’d explored the creatures’ mythology a bit more.
I watched 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' back when it first came out, and it left a lasting impression on me. The film taps into that primal fear of the unseen—those tiny, whispering creatures lurking in the shadows. What makes it unsettling isn't just the jumpscares (though there are a few good ones), but the slow buildup of dread. The way the director plays with darkness and sound design makes you feel like something's always just out of sight.
Honestly, it's not the goriest or most violent horror movie, but it's psychologically unnerving. The child protagonist adds another layer of tension; seeing her terror feels so raw. If you're creeped out by things like 'The Babadook' or 'The Others,' this one will probably get under your skin too. I still think about those little monsters sometimes when I hear odd noises at night.
The 2010 film 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' always gives me chills—not just because of the creepy little creatures, but because of how it plays with the idea of 'based on true events.' It's actually a remake of a 1973 TV movie, and while the story itself isn't factually true, it taps into that universal fear of hidden things lurking in old houses. Guillermo del Toro's involvement as producer adds that layer of gothic eeriness he does so well, making it feel oddly plausible even though it's pure fiction.
What's fascinating is how the film borrows from real-world folklore about household spirits or 'small folk,' like brownies or hobgoblins, which often have malicious twists in older tales. The screenplay expands on the original's premise, but neither version claims to be a true story—just a really effective horror premise that sticks with you. I love how it uses architectural details (those air vents!) to make the supernatural feel tangible.
The 2010 remake of 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' was primarily filmed in Melbourne, Australia, which gave the movie that eerie, gothic vibe it’s known for. The production team used some incredible locations around the city, like the historic Rippon Lea Estate, which doubled as the film’s creepy mansion. The lush gardens and the old-world architecture of the estate added so much to the film’s unsettling atmosphere.
I love how the filmmakers leveraged Melbourne’s moody weather and vintage buildings to create a sense of isolation and dread. It’s one of those movies where the setting feels like a character itself—dark, mysterious, and full of secrets. If you’ve seen it, you’ll know what I mean! The attention to detail in the filming locations really elevates the horror elements.