Hey folks, Harry here with the first review of DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK from the first public screening at the Virginia Film Festival. I'm so envious. The comic con preview made this one look awesome! Here ya go...
Harry, there are very few things in life anymore that get me all kiddie-like. Seeing a new Guillermo del Toro flick is one of them! Especially when you're in attendance for the FIRST AUDIENCE SCREENING! Aside from a few tacky Tom Cruise jokes by the moderator and some random yahoo critiquing from the balcony, last night was amazing! As a horror fan, Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark was everything I hoped it would be! This film delivers on so many different levels! Trust me! I always get so hurt when I read something negative about a film I'm looking forward to. Even if it is in the slightest bit negative. So rest assured this film has very few flaws, if any! It's not a perfect film. It's a fucking AWESOME Guillermo del Toro & Troy Nixey rollercoaster ride taking you into the basement, chewing you up and shitting you out somewhere in the bowels of the subterranean! Bailee Madison carries this film on her shoulders and she does it amazingly well! Katie Holmes seems a little awkward at first but you understand just milliseconds after the notion enters your mind that her character is in an extremely awkward situation herself. From then on she is absolutely divine! I never have anything bad to say about Guy Pierce. His character pays great homage to the original husband played by Jim Hutton. There are many great moments that line up with the original 1972 version. There are also many new FUCKING FANTASTIC cinematic events that will be renowned and evolve in to legendary status! Especially one character's exit... The creatures! The creatures! The creatures! They want to be your friends! THIS IS THE LITTLE MONSTER MOVIE WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! For a couple moments these little guys almost seem cute. That idea soon turns rotten for these little guys are cunning, vicious and vile and actually really good with scissors, straight razors, long metal wires and garage door openers!!! They won't be satisfied until they get one thing and one thing only (which I'm not going to spoil). I will say this, we're all connected to these little beastly beasts. Our childhood's are anyway... As we plunge deeper and deeper into the murky antiquity of this mansion and it's past, I realized last night what a fucking marvel, the film's director, Troy Nixey is!!! Any first time director any director for that matter who can bring del Toro's words and vision to life so vividly is a genius in my eyes! I can't wait to see what's next for him! The producer, Mark Johnson, intro-ed the film then happily and ever so patiently sat through the most ridiculous panel I have ever witnessed! I really have to give it to Mr. Johnson cause I would have lost my cool! Not only was the film critic who moderated blatantly out of line as he kept cracking bad Tom Cruise jokes, he also severely strayed off topic into some other realm in which I believe would even scare the complete shit out of del Toro himself! Then there was the random dude in the audience telling Mr. Johnson how the film could be bettered. His gab descended from the balcony for a few minutes until the audience finally told him to shut up. All the while Mr. Johnson sat kindly and patiently as the mess spread further and further, then the moderator turned it over to the audience. Finally, Mark Johnson was able to share some great details about the production and del Toro's passion for bringing Don't Be Afraid of the Dark to life! It's a great film and you horror fans are going to love it! Bide your time though until its released, cause it may be a while... Justin L. Smith If you use this would you mind plugging my short film TENT? www.PleaseGodKeepMeAlive.com
