Film directed by
André Øvredal and co-written with
Guillermo del Toro,
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) benefits from an efficient Halloween atmosphere, an excellent photography, the nostalgic 60's dress code, impressive old cars and rather talented young actors. On certain aspects, in particular the ineluctably-fatalistic side, the film makes me think of
Nightmare - Mörderische Träume (1984) directed by
Wes Craven in which a psychopath sadistically haunts teens during their sleep.
After the showing of a cult film (
Die Nacht der lebenden Toten (1968)) in a drive-in theater, a group of teens arrives, we do not really know how, in a time-worn mansion on the edge of town, abandoned for ages after an unexplained murder. By chance, they find a book. A cursed book! The small town will then suffer a wave of atrocious deaths. Stella and Ramón will have to face their own worst demons in order to stop the carnage and save the inhabitants.
As a synthesis: an efficient teen movie for getting started with cinematographic thrills. 6/7 of 10
