Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2010)

Director:

Troy Nixey

Writers (WGA):

Guillermo del Toro (screenplay) &
Matthew Robbins (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 August 2011 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

A young girl sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend discovers creatures in her new home who want to claim her as one of their own.

Plot Keywords:

Basement | Mansion | Interior Designer | Disappearance | Creature

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Bruce Gleeson	...	Buggy Driver
Eddie Ritchard	...	Housekeeper (as Edwina Ritchard)
Garry McDonald	...	Blackwood
Bailee Madison	...	Sally
Carolyn Shakespeare-Allen	...	Airport Cart Driver
Katie Holmes	...	Kim
Guy Pearce	...	Alex
Jack Thompson	...	Harris
Julia Blake	...	Mrs. Underhill
David Tocci	...	Workman
Lance Drisdale	...	Policeman
Nicholas Bell	...	Psychiatrist
Libby Gott	...	Nurse
James Mackay	...	Librarian
Emelia Burns	...	Caterer
Alan Dale	...	Charles Jacoby
Trudy Hellier	...	Evelyn Jacoby
Terry Kenwrick	...	Bill
Grant Piro	...	Creature Voices (voice)
Todd MacDonald	...	Creature Voices (voice)
Angus Smallwood	...	Creature Voices (voice)
Dylan Young	...	Creature Voices (voice)
Guillermo del Toro	...	Creature Voices (voice)
Abbe Holmes	...	Voice of Joanne (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lisa N Edwards	...	Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)

Directed by
Troy Nixey

Writing credits (WGA)
Guillermo del Toro		(screenplay) &
Matthew Robbins		(screenplay)
Nigel McKeand		(1973 teleplay)

Produced by
Melanie Chryss	....	assistant producer
William Horberg	....	executive producer
Mark Johnson	....	producer
Stephen Jones	....	executive producer
Nick Nunziata	....	associate producer
Guillermo del Toro	....	producer
Tom Williams	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Marco Beltrami
Buck Sanders

Cinematography by
Oliver Stapleton

Film Editing by
Jill Bilcock

Casting by
Venus Kanani
Christine King
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Roger Ford

Art Direction by
Lucinda Thomson

Set Decoration by
Kerrie Brown

Costume Design by
Wendy Chuck

Makeup Department
Katherine Brown	....	special makeup effects artist
Mary Elizalde	....	CFO: Spectral Motion Inc.
Mia Kate Russell	....	makeup artist: additional unit
Zeljka Stanin	....	key hair
Zeljka Stanin	....	key makeup
Chiara Tripodi	....	key make-up and hair designer

Production Management
Dean Hood	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Boskell	....	first assistant director: second unit
Corrie Chen	....	third assistant director
Todd Embling	....	second assistant director
Bruce Hunt	....	second unit director: splinter unit
Yuki Nagashima	....	additional assistant director
Toby Pease	....	first assistant director
Greg Spiller	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Milo Angel	....	graphic artist: pre-production
Marko Anttonen	....	set designer
Michael Bell	....	assistant art director
Graeme Callander	....	storyboard artist
Dan Caplan	....	storyboard artist: Los Angeles
Vanessa Cerne	....	set dresser
Ben Corless	....	construction manager
Nicholas Dare	....	set designer
Rohan Dawson	....	2IC painter
Craig Fison	....	sculptor
Gary Grimes	....	scenic foreman
Max Haymes	....	construction coordinator (2009)
Nick Hepburn	....	art swing gang
Chris James	....	stand-by props
Elaine Kusmishko	....	assistant art director
Elaine Kusmishko	....	props master
Michael Madden	....	set designer
Tim McGaw	....	senior propmaker
Jordan Molloy	....	art department runner
Sara Moroney	....	art department accountant
Ralph Moser	....	concept artist
Shanthi Nadaraja	....	art department coordinator
Nick Pledge	....	head of props
Mélanie Poudroux	....	sculptor
Ian Richter	....	scenic artist
Andy Robinson	....	hod scenic
Tim Russell	....	stagehand sculpture
Steven Sallybanks	....	decorative artist
Jeff Sturm	....	swing gang
Keith Thompson	....	Blackwood drawings
Keith Thompson	....	creature designer
Adam Vitolins	....	set builder
Kirsty Vogel	....	clearances coordinator
Nathan Wentworth	....	set decorating runner
David Hirschfield	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Adam Connelly	....	foley artist
Brendan Geaney	....	foley editor
Chris Goodes	....	sound editor
Robert Mackenzie	....	sound designer
Robert Mackenzie	....	sound re-recording mixer
Glenn Newnham	....	supervising sound editor
Chris O'Shea	....	second boom operator
Blair Slater	....	foley mixer & editor
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Gretchen Thornburn	....	sound recordist: second unit
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Genevieve Bevan-John	....	special effects technician
Roland Blancaflor	....	special effects crew: Spectral Motion, Inc.
Brenden Barry Brown	....	special effects technician
Maxine Dennett	....	special effects assistant supervisor
Brian Duff	....	special effects assistant technician
Rob Heggie	....	on set supervisor
Hiroshi Katagiri	....	key artist: Spectral Motion inc
Tim O'Brien	....	special effects workshop coordinator (as Timothy O'Brien)
Angelo Sahin	....	special effects supervisor
Dave Seaborn	....	special effects technician
Brian Walsh	....	production supervisor: Spectral Motion, Inc.

Visual Effects by
Grant Adam	....	lead technical director: Iloura
Dan Ashton	....	film recording technician: Weta Digital
Aaron Auty	....	lighting technical director: Iloura
Nick Booth	....	film recording supervisor: Weta Digital
Paul Buckley	....	lead animator: Iloura
Eddie Chew	....	animator: Iloura
Andrew Clarke	....	matte painter
Holger Dielenberg	....	animator: Iloura
Domenic DiGiorgio	....	charater td: Iloura
Julian Dimsey	....	visual effects supervisor (Iloura)
Laura Dubsky	....	digital compositor: Iloura
Chris Dwyer	....	data manager: Iloura
Simon Dye	....	digital compositor
Mike Elizalde	....	creature design consultant
Dean Elliott	....	animator: Iloura
Alan Fairlie	....	digital compositor: Iloura
Amelia Ford	....	visual effects editor
Daniel Fotheringham	....	animator: Iloura
Jason Gilholme	....	match mover: Iloura
Avi Goodman	....	lead animator: Iloura
Mat Govoni	....	data wrangler
Shane Hall	....	animator: Iloura
Dominic Hellier	....	digital compositor: Iloura
Sam Jensen	....	lead modeller: Iloura
Andrew Keeble	....	animator: Iloura
Tom Kenneally	....	roto artist: Iloura
Alan S.L. Lam	....	roto artist: Iloura
Adrian Lim	....	animator: Iloura
Ineke Majoor	....	visual effects producer: Iloura
Shelley Matulick	....	data wrangler
Glenn Melenhorst	....	lead visual effects supervisor: Iloura
Keith Meure	....	roto artist: Iloura
Jay C. Miller	....	lighting technical director: Iloura
Matt Omond	....	digital compositor: Iloura
Matt Omond	....	on set visual effects supervisor: Iloura
Heath Pagram	....	animator: Iloura
Matthew Pascuzzi	....	digital compositor: Iloura
Bruce Phillips	....	on set visual effects supervisor: iloura
James Robison	....	technical director: Iloura
Simon Rosenthal	....	digital executive producer: Iloura
Scott Shapiro	....	visual effects producer
Josh Simmonds	....	lead lighting technical director: Iloura
Frederick George Stuhrberg	....	3D scanning
Christopher Sutton	....	3d scanning: Inition
Evann Tjokrosetio	....	digital artist
Nick Tripodi	....	lead animator: Iloura
Jordan Walsh	....	lighting technical director: Iloura
Pete Williams	....	film recording manager: Weta Digital
Drew Wood-Davies	....	lighting technical director: Iloura

Stunts
Russell Frost	....	additional stunt coordinator
Jacqueline Geelan	....	stunt double
Warwick Sadler	....	stunt double (Guy Pearce)
Mark Wickham	....	head stunt rigger

Camera and Electrical Department
Steven Bailey	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera, second unit
Tov Belling	....	first assistant camera
Travis Bigg	....	set grip
Ben Bryan	....	film loader
Ross Emery	....	director of photography: second unit
Karl Engeler	....	gaffer
Chris Hansford	....	crane technician: Technocrane
Adam Hunter	....	rigging gaffer
Andrew Jerram	....	first assistant camera
Aaron Jones	....	video assist operator
Dora Krolikowska	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Mark Kupenga	....	rigging grip
Chaz Lyon	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera, second unit
Arthur Manousakis	....	key grip
Lee Mariano	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Darren McAngus	....	grip
Peter McCaffrey	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Peter McCaffrey	....	steadicam operator
Calum McFarlane	....	camera operator: second unit
David Nichols	....	key grip
Louis Puli	....	additional steadicam operator
Brook Rushton	....	digital stills assistant
Ricky Schamburg	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Adam Vitolins	....	additional grip
Garie Wetherill	....	digital video assist: second unit

Animation Department
James Humphries	....	animator

Casting Department
Lindsay Graham	....	casting associate
Kate Leonard	....	extras casting
John McAlary	....	casting associate
David Newman	....	casting associate
Jordan Peterson	....	casting intern

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Maria Pattison	....	costume assistant
Kerry Thompson	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Billy Browne	....	first assistant editor
Hayley Miro Browne	....	assistant editor
Rob Gordon	....	senior on-line editor
Katie Hinsen	....	digital intermediate editor
David Hollingsworth	....	head of digital intermediate: Park Road Post / digital intermediate colorist
Erin McGookin	....	digital intermediate producer
Rachel McKellar-Harding	....	rushes coordinator
Ross Mitchell	....	scanning producer

Music Department
Craig Beckett	....	music editor
Craig Beckett	....	score recordist
William Boston	....	orchestrator
Daniel Brown	....	score recordist
Rossano Galante	....	orchestrator
Alex Henery	....	music contractor
John Kurlander	....	music recording engineer
John Kurlander	....	score mixer
James K. Lee	....	music librarian
Ewan Mitchell	....	music stage manager
Victor Pesavento	....	music preparation
Jason Ruder	....	music editor
Tim Ryan	....	music editor
Jorge Velasco	....	scoring pro tools engineer
Jessica Wells	....	music preparation

Transportation Department
Clare Hollins	....	driver: cast
James McCready	....	driver
Thomas McSweeney	....	driver
Teresa Ryan	....	driver
Joel Sprake	....	driver
Paul Wambach	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Peter Arvanitis	....	stand-in: Guy Pearce
Michael Bartol	....	manager: physical production: Miramax Films
Mark Campbell	....	extras coordinator
Manuel Caracciolo	....	production secretary
Wendy Cohen	....	product placement/clearances
Nicole Coulston	....	accounts payable
Jessica Dart	....	assistant location manager
Tara Dean	....	production legal
Emily Eckert	....	assistant to Mark Johnson
Laura Erickson	....	studio teacher
Serena Gattuso	....	production coordinator
Nathan Hart	....	runner
Lisa Inman	....	script supervisor: splinter unit
Ben Lowe	....	location manager
Gabriella Ludlow	....	production legal
Hamish MacLeod	....	unit assistant
Rachel McKellar-Harding	....	rushes coordinator
Sally-Anne Moody	....	double: Katie Holmes
Sally-Anne Moody	....	stand-in: Katie Holmes
Peter Murphy	....	stand-in: Gary McDonald
Kevin Plummer	....	financial controller
Patrick Plummer	....	first assistant accountant (2010)
Lisa Schmigalla	....	assistant accountant
Tamasin Simpkin	....	travel and accommodation coordinator
Anna Vincent	....	unit publicist
Kristin Witcombe	....	script supervisor
Linda A. Borgeson	....	executive in charge of post production (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Miramax Films (as Miramax) (presents)
• FilmDistrict (in association with)
• Necropia
• Gran Via
• Tequila Gang

Distributors

• Alliance Films (2011) (Canada) (theatrical)
• CDI Films (2011) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2011) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Face to Face (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• FilmDistrict (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Pictures (2011) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Optimum Releasing (2011) (UK) (theatrical)
• Pathé Films (2011) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Pioneer Films (2011) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Pony Canyon (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Village Films (2011) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Intercontinental Video (2012) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Intercontinental Video (2012) (Hong Kong) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• StudioCanal (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• TriPictures (2011) (Spain) (all media)
• Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2011) (Portugal) (all media)

Special Effects

• Iloura (visual effects)
• Spectral Motion (creature effects)

Other Companies

• Cameraquip Australia  additional camera equipment provided by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Digital Media Services (DMS)  digital marketing asset management
• Digital Pictures  dailies
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Park Road Post  post-production facilities
• Real People Victoria  extras casting
• Soundfirm  sound post-production
• Threadgold Plummer Hood  payroll services
• VisionsMCP  doubles casting
• VisionsMCP  extras casting
• VisionsMCP  stand-ins

Also Known As:

"No temas a la oscuridad" - Mexico (imdb display title)
"No tengas miedo a la oscuridad" - Peru (imdb display title), Spain (imdb display title)
"Не бойся темноты" - Russia
"Älä pelkää pimeää" - Finland (imdb display title)
"Dark Fairy" - Japan (English title) (imdb display title)
"Karanliktan Korkma" - Turkey (Turkish title) (imdb display title)
"Mi fovasai to skotadi" - Greece (imdb display title)
"Não Tenha Medo do Escuro" - Brazil (imdb display title)
"Não Tenhas Medo do Escuro" - Portugal (imdb display title)
"Ne boj se teme" - Slovenia (imdb display title)
"Ne plasi se mraka" - Serbia (imdb display title)
"Nebijok tamsos" - Lithuania (imdb display title)
"Nebojte se tmy" - Czech Republic (imdb display title)
"Nie bój sie ciemnosci" - Poland (imdb display title)
"No le temas a la oscuridad" - Chile (imdb display title)
"No temas a la oscuridad" - Argentina (imdb display title)
"Non avere paura del buio" - Italy (imdb display title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and terror

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA | Australia | Mexico

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS (as Datasat Digital Sound) | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #46131) | Malaysia:18 | Ireland:16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:15 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Argentina:13 | Portugal:M/16 | Chile:TE | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Central City Studios, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

The runes carved into the stone over the furnace that the creatures live down spells out "Be Afraid" in Elder Futhark.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: While stuck in traffic, a construction worker is seen holding a circular stop sign, which is used by construction crews in Australia. US Construction crews are required to use octagon shaped stop signs.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Nostalgia Critic: The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland (#4.36)" (2011)

A Lame Screenplay, Despite the Participation of Guillermo del Toro

In Rhode Island, the interior designers Alex (Guy Pearce) and his girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes) welcome Alex's nine year daughter Sally (Bailee Madison) that was sent by her mother to live with Alex. The couple brings Sally to the manor of the painter Emerson Blackwood (Garry McDonald), who had disappeared with his son many years ago, and Alex has invested all his money in the mansion expecting to be promoted in his business with the restoration of the house.

Sally rejects Kim and feels lonely in the mansion and while walking on the real estate, she finds that the manor has a hidden basement. Alex's employee William Harris (Jack Thompson), who is a descendant of Blackwood, warns Sally to never go to the basement but the girl overhears voices in the ash pit calling her. However Sally brings a wrench and removes the bolts of the ash pit cover. Sooner Sally finds that evil creatures that fear the light have escaped from the underground through the ash pit and are threatening her. However, Alex and Kim believe that it is only her imagination.

"Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" is a remake of a 1973 film that I have never seen. The cinematography and the performance of the girl Bailee Madison are great. Unfortunately the lame screenplay has many plot holes and, for example, the disappearance of Kim and the weird events that the guests have witnessed have no consequence in the end of the story.

The DVD has interviews and behind stage footages and it is visible the interference of Guillermo del Toro in the direction. Unfortunately his participation is not enough to save this film. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Não Tenha Medo do Escuro" ("Don't Be Afraid of the Dark")