Everyone remembers the sheer terror that ran down their spines as they saw their first horror movie. That one movie causes half of the population to vow off scary movies forever while the other half embraces the terror. 

“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,” a collection of short, horror-themed stories, was a lot of kids’ first glance into the genre of horror. The illustrations were scary and the book was almost always slammed shut in a panic-stricken rush.

On August 9, 2019, the horrifying book came to the big screen and scary movie fans were delighted. Personally, a huge fan of the original book, I immediately wanted to see it and let me just tell you, I was not disappointed. 

The movie consists of the most horrifying short stories and all of them are connected into one incredible plot that makes the viewer’s blood run cold. It begins one Halloween night in a small town. Taking place during the late sixties, viewers travel back to more primitive times. This Halloween night, however, is more than just one of treats as there are more tricks than one could handle. 

The plot: A small group of friends enter an abandoned haunted mansion. The mansion, occupied by Sarah Bellows and her family, is the talk of the town. Everyone believes that Sarah was a deformed young woman locked in quarantine by her family. Apparently, if you dared to visit her, she told you a scary story. As the teens begin to explore, they stumble upon Sarah’s storybook and steal it. From then on, the book comes to life, taking each member of the group on a wild adventure. As each person disappears, the group becomes more and more dedicated to solving the decades-old mystery of Sarah Bellows. 

With well-written thrills, romance, friendship, and some sleuthing, this movie has you on the edge of your seat. Scary in the best ways possible, I would not suggest this movie for the easily rattled. However, avid horror fans, head on down to the theater and strap yourself in for a wild ride. 

Rating: 5/5 Feathers