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Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

Play trailer Poster for Don't Be Afraid of the Dark 1973,  1h 14m,  Horror/ Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 75% 8 Reviews Tomatometer 57% 500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
75% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A couple who inherited an old house learn they share it with small creatures determined to possess the wife's mind.

Critics Reviews

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Paul Lê Bloody Disgusting Aug 26, 2025
4/5
[Don't Be Afraid of the Dark] didn’t have too much money to spend, but it compensates with a priceless amount of atmosphere. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Aug 29, 2020
7/10
An impressive little thriller, full of uniquely unnerving notions, and a surefire bit of amusement for those flustered by monsters under the bed. Go to Full Review
R.L. Shaffer IGN DVD Jan 29, 2012
6/10
Certainly inspirational and occasionally haunting, with great effects, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is also a bit overlong and padded. Go to Full Review
John Beifuss Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) Sep 16, 2011
3/4
The husband's hostility seems to encourage disaster, and the depiction of the couple's relationship offers something of a preview of what Stanley Kubrick would do with Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall in the early part of 'The Shining.' Go to Full Review
John J. Puccio Movie Metropolis Aug 23, 2011
5/10
If you were a child and saw it for the first time on television some four decades ago, it might have seemed pretty scary. Go to Full Review
Drew McWeeny HitFix Jun 29, 2011
B+
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Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

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Cast & Crew

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John Newland

Director

Kim Darby

Sally Farnham

Jim Hutton

Alex Farnham

Barbara Anderson

Joan Kahn

William Demarest

Mr. Harris

Pedro Armendáriz Jr.

Francisco Perez

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Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A couple who inherited an old house learn they share it with small creatures determined to possess the wife's mind.
Director
John Newland
Producer
Allen S. Epstein
Genre
Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 22, 2017
Runtime
1h 14m
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