Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

TV Movie
1973
Unrated
1h 14m

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

4.2K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,779

662

Kim Darby in Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973)

Horror Mystery Thriller

A young couple inherits an old mansion inhabited by small demon-like creatures who are determined to make the wife one of their own.A young couple inherits an old mansion inhabited by small demon-like creatures who are determined to make the wife one of their own.A young couple inherits an old mansion inhabited by small demon-like creatures who are determined to make the wife one of their own.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

4.2K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,779

662

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos90

+ 84

Top cast20

Edit

Kim Darby

Sally Farnham

Jim Hutton

Alex Farnham

Barbara Anderson

Joan Kahn

William Demarest

Mr. Harris

Pedro Armendáriz Jr.

Francisco Perez
(as Pedro Armendariz Jr.)

Lesley Woods

Ethyl

Robert Cleaves

Doctor

Sterling Swanson

Policeman

Joel Lawrence

George Kahn
(as J.H. Lawrence)

William Sylvester

Tom Henderson

Don Mallon

Celia Milius

Anne
(as Celia Kaye)

Elizabeth St. Clair

Party Guest

Monika Henreid

Party Guest
(as Monica Henreid)

Robert Priest

Party Guest

Ted Swanson

Bartender

Felix Silla

Creature

Tamara De Treaux

Creature
(as Tamara DeTreaux)

Director
- John Newland
Writer
- Nigel McKeand
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
The total production time - including script approval by Lorimar, casting, special effects, voice-overs, and exterior shots - was slightly over two weeks, making this one of the quickest made-for-TV movie turnarounds ever. This was due mainly to a writers strike that began just before the script was completed.

Goofs
The creatures keep changing size. During one scene, the creatures aren't much bigger than a few inches, as they hide behind the books. But, when they go outside to cut the cables, they are as tall as the trash cans.

Quotes
Creatures: [opening lines] Will she come? Do you think she will come?
First Creature: She will. You know she will.
Second Creature: But when? When?
First Creature: Very soon. It's just a matter of time. Of waiting for a while. All we have to do is bide our time. Bide our time.
[laughs]
Creatures: But it's been so long. So many years. When will she come and set us free-set us free!
First Creature: Patience! Patience! We've all the time in the world.
[laughs]
Creatures: We've all the time in the world. In the world. In the world. To set us free! In the world!
[Maniacal laughter]

Connections
Featured in WatchMojo: Another Top 10 Scariest Movie Monsters (2017)

User reviews182

Review

Featured review

9/10

Don't miss this flick

Unbelievably creepy. Is this movie on DVD or video anywhere? I haven't been able to get it out of my mind since seeing it in the 70's. Totally 70's gritty cool horror film. We'll probably never see horror made like this again. Especially when dopey heiresses are playing leads in current horror films. Movies, especially horror, have sucked since the early eighties. The film brings you back to a time when people didn't need spit shined, glossy Hollywood film style to be scared. Budgets were limited, so this movie makes do with lighting, shadows, eerie music, and mood. So again, shut out the lights, curl up under a warm blanket, and try not to be afraid of the dark.