I remember reading these books when I was in elementary school. The library was always out of these books so you would have to put your name on a waiting list and wait for your turn. This film has a lot of nostalgia for me. Going into this film, I was excited to see what they would do with it. Once I got into my seat and the movie started, I realized that I was in for a more PG to PG-13 horror film than I was a R rated horror movie. With this realization, I began to give the film some leeway.
Most of this film is not scary at all. However, the monsters do look great and the effects are pretty good. Unfortunately, the story line falls flat because the premise has a Nancy Drew or Scooby-Doo vibe to it. Nevertheless, I do give the writers of the film credit for taking a book that is a bunch of short stories and making a cohesive plot and story throughout the film. The effort was there and the swing was taken, it just falls a little short. The acting in the film is just average. There was no performance that really stood out in my opinion. Because of this, you may find yourself drifting throughout the film.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a great attempt but just falls short of the mark. It is one that I would suggest waiting to watch on your home streaming service. This is not a terrible film but just one to easily follow and know what is coming. Cinema Wise gives Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark a 2.25 out of 5.
Cinema Wise 