FRIGHT FEST: ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK IS A TRUE THROWBACK

In Nickelodeon's limited series reboot of the hit 90s horror-for-kids tv show, Are You Afraid of The Dark?, we follow Rachel (Lyliana Wray) as she moves to a new town where she feels isolated and alone. It isn't long before Midnight Society members Graham (Jeremy Ray Taylor), Gavin (Sam Ashe Arnold), Louise (Tamara Smart), and Akiko (Miya Cech) notice her and induct her into their ranks. Rachel's recurring nightmares of a freaky figure named Mr. Top Hat (Rafael Casal, who previously starred in Blindspotting)); who presides over a sinister carnival dubbed The Carnival of Doom;  make the perfect fodder for her first scary story. Unfortunately, the next day the group awakens to find that The Carnival of Doom is actually real and has arrived in their town. As kids start to disappear, The Midnight Society realize it may be up to them to investigate and end Mr. Top Hat's evil reign.

The cast all do great jobs, with the stand outs being Sam Ashe Arnold as Gavin, Jeremy Ray Taylor as Graham, Lyliana Wray as Rachel, and Rafael Casal as Mr. Top Hat (Dean Israelite directs and does a stand up job. It's certainly better than his previous efforts: Battle L.A., Project Almanac and Power Rangers). Jeremy Ray Taylor shines as Graham,  who's super power is his love of all things horror. He is quite funny, likable and relate able. He's not one of the cool or popular kids in school, but he doesn't seem all that bothered by this, secure in his own skin.  Sam Ashe Arnold fits his role as the kind, inclusive, cool boy who Rachel harbors a crush on. They both have nice chemistry together, and it's easy to buy them as close friends and a couple. Lyliana Wray is well cast as the lead, managing to come across as strong despite her fears and insecurities (A good role model for young girls). Rafael Casal is a lot of fun as Mr. Top Hot, putting on a grand, impressive, cool, and at times twitchy performance. He is just about perfect in the villain role, to the point where you honestly don't want to see him defeated in the end. Casal is clearly relishing his role, and is guilty of mugging at times. That said, it's him and Jeremy Ray Taylor as Graham that easily emerge as the most memorable parts of this mini-series.

Are You Afraid of The Dark is sure to remind most of the made-for-tv-horror-for-kids movies they may have grown up with, films like The Scream Team, The Halloweentown films, Phantom of The Megaplex, Under Wraps, Don't Look Under The Bed, and Mom's Got A Date With A Vampire. This modern re-imagining easily joins the ranks of these cool little classics. It's nice to get a return to that style of film making, and Are You Afraid of The Dark resembles a throw back to those glory days.

In the end, it's hard not to be impressed by this modern update of Are You Afraid of The Dark. The setting of The Carnival of Doom is pretty darned cool, the villain Mr. Top Hot is imposing and fun, and the members of The Midnight Society are all likable and work well together. The mini-series is atmospheric, creepy and might scare young ones at times, but it's never quite enough to give them nightmares. Are You Afraid of The Dark is certainly one of the best made-for-tv-horror-for-kids films that's come out in a long, long time. It's definitely worth a watch for any horror fan, young or old.

4 STARS