#2019-21

A group of children making a group called The Midnight Society meet to tell scary stories.

 One of the best elements of this series is that it focuses on stories and the messages behind them, employing young people to demonstrate the sense of wonder there is in creating or experiencing a narrative. There are a range of plots and tropes showing the various twists and development that horror fiction can have.

 The acting varies quite considerably since there’s a new cast every week in the original series but since the turnover is so fast, the poorer performances don’t last long. The framing device feels disconnected from the stories for the first couple of seasons but it’s easy to get used to and is one of the unusual things about the show, however it’s more modern in the remake where the storytellers are integrated into the story.

 There are some amusing recurring characters that get a little more development in later seasons and references in the remake. The recast of Sardo was a little concerning at first but the new actor played it well and there was a satisfying cameo from the original. The remake adds more drama to its story and serializes the narratives but still works well and can even explore newer horror techniques.

 The romance is an odd element in the stories because it always feels weird routing for such young children to display romantic affection or get into relationships. Considering the racial and cultural diversity in both the cast and the narrative influences, the lack of gay characters seems notable and something one would think the remake series would have taken advantage of since it has the benefit of a more enlightened political climate.

 Are You Afraid of the Dark original: 6/10 -Just a cut above average-

 Are You Afraid of the Dark remake: 7/10 -Well above average, but no masterpiece-

 -Sardo is named after a commercial for bath oils recalled from one of the writers’ childhood.

-In the first season of the remake the surnames of the children are references to famous horror film directors.