Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

Name: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Family
Released: August 9, 2019
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Austin Abrams, Austin Zajur, Dean Norris, Gabriel Rush, Gil Bellows

2019

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 184 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 184 Ratings

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Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark (Trailer 2)

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Movie Details & Credits

Lionsgate | Release Date: August 9, 2019 | PG-13

Starring: Austin Abrams, Austin Zajur, Dean Norris, Gabriel Rush, Gil Bellows, Jane Moffat, Javier Botet, Kathleen Pollard, Lorraine Toussaint, Mark Steger, Michael Garza, Natalie Ganzhorn, Stephanie Belding, Zoe Margaret Colletti

Summary: It’s 1968 in America. Change is blowing in the wind...but seemingly far removed from the unrest in the cities is the small town of Mill Valley where for generations, the shadow of the Bellows family has loomed large. It is in their mansion on the edge of town that Sarah, a young girl with horrible secrets, turned her tortured life into aIt’s 1968 in America. Change is blowing in the wind...but seemingly far removed from the unrest in the cities is the small town of Mill Valley where for generations, the shadow of the Bellows family has loomed large. It is in their mansion on the edge of town that Sarah, a young girl with horrible secrets, turned her tortured life into a series of scary stories, written in a book that has transcended time—stories that have a way of becoming all too real for a group of teenagers who discover Sarah’s terrifying tome.… Expand

Director: André Øvredal

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Family

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 108 min

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Critic Reviews

Clark Collis

Aug 8, 2019

Blessed with some firm hands on the terror tiller and a winning cast, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a handsome, and deliciously horrible, horror movie. Read full review

A.A. Dowd

Aug 8, 2019

As gross and spooky and, yes, occasionally frightening as these terror tactics get, they never quite cross over into the deep end of truly grownup horror. That’s intentional, and a key to the film’s fun: It gets away with everything it can on a PG-13 leash, smuggling some real scares to the under-18 crowd. Read full review

Matt Donato

Aug 8, 2019

Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark is gateway horror that treats intended audiences to many a scream, pulling no punches nor watering down nightmarish conjurings that remind how healthy fearful emotions can be at any age. Read full review

Bilge Ebiri

Aug 8, 2019

There is absolutely nothing original in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, which just goes to show that you don’t need originality to be effective. Read full review

The Telegraph Tim Robey

Sep 2, 2019

Scary Stories hits with the scares as much as it misses with the storytelling, levelling out to a glass half full. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Aug 9, 2019

A sort of welcome throwback, a horror movie cleverly designed to be more spooky than truly grisly. That leaves it, however, in a bit of a no-man's land, as this PG-13-rated film is still too scary for the tweens that might be drawn to the challenge and not jarring enough for older horror buffs accustomed to far worse. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Aug 8, 2019

Isn’t scary and isn’t worth the nearly two hours it eats up. Read full review

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User Reviews

ShadowMan64

Aug 25, 2019

Wonderful movie. Definitely feel Del Toro had a part in this. The story is well written and the way the smaller stories (from the book) comes together here is marvelously done.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

SoyHenryV

Nov 24, 2019

La magia y el horror de esta cinta viene de sus impecables y maravillosos monstruos. Es una cinta de aventuras con cierto toque de suspenso. Estoy seguro de que ganará más cariño y seguidores en el futuro.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Grachechkovski

Aug 12, 2019

The good horror movie without screamers, but with a individual Del Toro's horror atmosphere. The last monster is very impressived to me and the story "The Red Room" is really scary for me and reminded me the "It Follows" film

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

BrushedRed

Aug 9, 2019

It’s not perfect, but it is perfectly enjoyable. I knew it was going to be visually stunning from the moment I saw Guillermo Del Toro, and it absolutely was. It was fun and nostalgic and it felt like the movie I wished Goosebumps had been a few years ago, rather than it taking the full onIt’s not perfect, but it is perfectly enjoyable. I knew it was going to be visually stunning from the moment I saw Guillermo Del Toro, and it absolutely was. It was fun and nostalgic and it felt like the movie I wished Goosebumps had been a few years ago, rather than it taking the full on comedy approach. It was cute and definitely more kid-oriented than it would be for adults, which is understandable. Felt more like 90’s Goosebumps episodes brought to today’s world. But even with all this praise and nostalgia I felt, I must retract some points just for the fact that the monsters felt hollow and lifeless and more of a means to an end or some sort of “scare factor” rather than having some sort of character or purpose or personality. A lot of the meat of the stories in here was taken out and I felt the overarching narrative was drug our a little too much or too long. Wish they had focused more on the stories within and cut back a little bit on the overarching narrative. Still, it was fun and I enjoyed it. Looking forward to the coming sequel. The ending pretty much promised one.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

Steezyeet

Nov 10, 2019

I really enjoyed watching this movie but the jumpscares are just too predictable as in every movie nowadays but i did enjoy the design of the monsters and the characters were also pretty likeable. I didnt think that the movie was scary at all and the story wasnt that great but its stillI really enjoyed watching this movie but the jumpscares are just too predictable as in every movie nowadays but i did enjoy the design of the monsters and the characters were also pretty likeable. I didnt think that the movie was scary at all and the story wasnt that great but its still really entertaining and nice to watch. Don't expect something special while watching this, but if you keep your expectations a little lower you'll probably enjoy it too :)… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Sep 2, 2019

This stayed halfaway, quite halfway.
I applaud that it communicates its story with a more spooky atmosphere instead of being violently graphic or to recurr to gore. Obvioulsy with a PG-13 rating that was going to be hard but the problem is that despite the title, this wasn't scary at all.
IThis stayed halfaway, quite halfway.
I applaud that it communicates its story with a more spooky atmosphere instead of being violently graphic or to recurr to gore. Obvioulsy with a PG-13 rating that was going to be hard but the problem is that despite the title, this wasn't scary at all.

I couldn't help feeling the whole time that I was watching an overlong episode of ''Are You Afraid of The Dark?'' only with more budget.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

CriticalwShlt

Jan 30, 2020

Garbage. I give it a zero I would. It is pathetic stupid dumb and full of ****

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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