Don't Be Afraid of the Dark 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 12, 2026

“Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” originally aired as an “ABC Movie of the Week” in 1973, presented as an evening with something scary for the Halloween season. It was a quickie endeavor, beginning production just over a month before it was presented to the public, but it apparently left a lasting mark on viewers, continuing to do so through the power of syndication. Much like “Bad Ronald” and “Trilogy of Terror,” “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” is a genre effort that’s managed to capture the imagination of many, with its offering of the creeps managing to sustain the picture’s reputation for decades, even inspiring a 2011 remake from producer/co-writer Guillermo del Toro. One certainly can’t challenge the simple pleasures of T.V. terror, and while the offering is far from commanding, director John Newland manages to summon some appealing weirdness with a tiny budget and extremely limited production time.

Sally (Kim Darby) has inherited her grandmother’s old house, working with interior designer Perez (Pedro Armendariz Jr.) to restore it, spending a lot of time and money in the process. Sally also finds a key to a locked study, delighted to have such a cozy spot for herself while her husband, lawyer Alex (Jim Hutton), is dealing with a potential promotion at work, taking up most of his free time. Sally fixates on a sealed fireplace inside the secret room, urging carpenter Harris (William Demarest) to open it up, but he refuses, urging her to leave it alone. Sally ignores the warning, forcing open a small door, only to find a shaft to a sub-basement, which is home to a pack of creatures who want to take possession of the stranger. The monsters begin revealing themselves to Sally, who responds with fear, though nobody else can see the beasts, leading to Alex and her friend, Joan (Barbara Anderson), becoming worried about her mental health as the creatures escalate their attacks.

As Harris warns Sally, “Some things are better left the way they are,” but that’s not how horror movies work. “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” creates a most determined Sally right from the start, watching the homemaker put up a fight when it comes to the control of the fireplace, adamant that she gain access to it to complete the imagined luxury of her study. The woman has zero chill about the room, helping to commence a feeling of creeping suspense in the movie as Sally opens a door that unleashes a threat. Just what this threat is isn’t entirely clarified in the writing (by Nigel McKeand), but, soon enough, these Gremlins? Critters? Ghoulies? Perhaps, Munchies? These little beasties are freed from their sub-basement prison, and they have a plan to take down Sally using the power of their haunting whispers and skill with weapons.

“Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” conjures some terrific visuals with the monsters, putting little people actors around oversized sets, while a green glow also does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to announcing that trouble is near. There are no pounding acts of suspense (again, this is a T.V. movie from 1973), but Newland is mindful of eeriness, trying to put pressure on the main character through aural influence and a few moments of threat, including the hoisting of a razor blade to cut Sally while she’s in the shower. Most of “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” remains a psychological game, as Sally believes there are mice in the house, slowly understanding that’s not the case. She takes her concerns to Alex, but, like a lot of men from the era, he doesn’t actually care about his wife, more concerned about an upcoming dinner party involving his boss, focused on securing his professional future.

Alex’s arc in “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” is one of extreme skepticism and even annoyance, pushing Sally to turn to Joan for help. There’s not much escalation when it comes to Sally’s mental freakout, and there are long stretches of banal conversations between creature appearances, helping to throttle whatever intensity is meant to collect during the run time. There’s more promise with Harris, who seems to understand what’s going on but refuses to share important information about a monster invasion, and “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” hits an occasional high with Sally’s recognition that she’s being watched by enemies three apples high. Darby isn’t an incredibly strong actress, but she delivers appropriate surges of panic in the film to help snap the endeavor out of its occasional stasis.

For additional information and analysis, please read the 2019 Blu-ray review by Randy Miller III.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

The Warner Archive Collection previously issued "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" in 2019, and Iconoscope returns to the title with a new UHD release, listed as "presented in Dolby Vision HDR" and "newly scanned and restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative." The movie isn't titled "Little Monsters in Bright Lighting," but it's interesting to see how dark the feature actually is. Blacks are a bit oppressive at times, losing bits of frame information as characters reference objects in a room viewers can't see clearly. Some shadowy events seem to work as intended, especially with the creatures. The Blu-ray presentation actually offers a slightly brighter examination of frame information, making it the more appealing viewing experience. Detail is obviously impressive under better lighting conditions, capturing excellent skin particulars and period hairstyles. Costuming is fibrous. Housing interiors carry appealing textures, and exteriors are pleasingly dimensional. Color is capable, with the eerie green glow of monstrous activity preserved. Primaries are distinct, along with greenery. Period style is also vivid. Skin tones are natural. Highlights are tasteful. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in excellent condition.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix is listed at the "original mono soundtrack," and clarity is consistent during the listening event. Dialogue exchanges are defined, from argumentative moments between the characters to the whispered questioning of the monsters. Scoring supports with sharp instrumentation and dramatic support. Sound effects are appreciable.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet feature an essay by telefilm historian Amanda Reyes.

• Commentary #1 features telefilm historian Amanda Reyes.

• Commentary #2 features fans Steve Barton, Jeffrey Reddick, and Sean Abley.

• "Setting Evil Free" (2:45, HD) is a brief examination of the shooting locations used on "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," prepared by Douglas Hosdal.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" is scrappy entertainment, lacking a bit of oomph when it needs it, but the production mostly captures a low-tech vide of network television terror. There's definitely a fanbase for the offering, which managed to terrify generations of young viewers during its initial decade of television airings. Whether or not such horrific intent actually plays with any intensity is up to viewers, but Newland does attempt to mount a proper creepshow, getting back to business between bouts of melodrama as amusing visuals return to the endeavor. The creatures and their ghoulish appearance are the highlights here, giving "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" a certain level of menace as the effort tries to sustain a simple haunting idea into a night of scary television.