Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973) was a childhood favorite of horror master Guillermo del Toro
Del Toro wrote the film's 2010 reboot of the same name.
Perhaps what makes Guillermo del Toro such a talented director is that before he was a creative in the industry, he was a fan of the genre.
Del Toro has long expressed love for the horror classics, as well as some appreciation for horror deep cuts that fueled his appreciation. In fact, del Toro was offered the opportunity to reboot one such well-loved film.
In 2010, the writer released Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, a feature film originally based on the 1973 made-for-television film of the same name.
During an interview with USA Today, del Toro revealed that the 1973 film was well-loved in his childhood, an adoration shared by his siblings.
"It was something close to my heart for a very long time," says del Toro. "My brothers and I would pursue each other in the house, saying, 'Sally, Sally'"
The film follows Sally Farnham, who moves into what she believes to be a haunted house with her husband. Del Toro’s love for the original film fueled his 2010 reboot. "We thought the movie was the most terrifying on Earth, and I want to honor what worked so well in that film,” said the writer. “We wanted to keep a more classic feeling, not edgy torture-porn stuff. It is almost an inventory of elements found in a classic scary film, but it is filtered through a very dark, almost fairy tale."
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