120+ movies: Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark

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120+ Movies of 2011, Annual Movie Challenge

Looking back to last year’s film watching challenge, I am way behind on my target of over 120 films watched in a year. This time last year I’d seen nearly 100 films already, and my target was only 100! Eep! If I have any chance of hitting over 120 this year I have some major catching up to do.

Don't Be Afraid of the DarkDon’t Be Afraid of the Dark (12/10/11)

A young girl sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend discovers creatures in her new home who want to claim her as one of their own.

I love a good horror/ghost story. Now that Halloween’s not far off, all the scary films are coming out thick and fast. Good news!

While DBAOTD had a few shortcomings, I really enjoyed it. I don’t scare easy and I can’t honestly remember the last film I saw that genuinely scared me. Oh wait, it could have been Black Swan. But that’s a different kind of scare. I digress!

DBAOTD felt like, to me, that it was trying to be a more traditional scary film. It definitely felt like The Shining at points with the young girl and the old knowledgeable grandfather type man. There were some good jumpy moments. Some nice tension building – mostly down to the score by Marco Beltrami and some really beautifully set up shots.

I was saddened by Guy Pearce’s lack of acting. Anyone could have played his character of the father who doesn’t know what to do with his child. Katie Holmes actually surprised me. I didn’t think she was awful! The real star of the show was Bailee Madison. She stole the show and sold the fear that poor Sally was feeling.

With Guillermo del Toro’s hand in this pie, you’ve got the creatures looking that distinct Guillermo way. While my brother groaned and rolled his eyes when he saw the tree carving in the door and the look of the creatures, I was quite happy to see his style back on the big screen. In fact, it made me want to watch Pan’s Labyrinth again.

All in all, a good scary film. A good one for Halloween.
Rating: 4/5

Read on to see the entire list of movies seen this year so far:

82 Movies so far this Year

  1. The Horse Whisperer 3/5 (01/01/11)
  2. The Informant! 3/5 (09/01/11)
  3. The Fighter 4/5 (11/01/11)
  4. 127 Hours 5/5 (14/01/11)
  5. The Wolfman 3/5 (15/01/11)
  6. Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story 4/5 (16/01/11)
  7. The King’s Speech 5/5 (19/01/11)
  8. The Town 4/5 (20/01/11)
  9. Ninja Assassin 2/5 (24/01/11)
  10. He’s Just Not That Into You 1/5 (25/01/11)
  11. Imagine That 1/5 (27/01/11)
  12. Gentlemen Broncos 2/5 (04/02/11)
  13. Hachi: A Dog’s Tale 4/5 (06/02/11)
  14. Daybreakers 3/5 (12/02/11)
  15. The Book of Eli 2/5 (13/02/11)
  16. True Grit 4/5 (15/02/11)
  17. Red 1/5 (19/02/11)
  18. Invictus 3/5 (20/02/11)
  19. Coraline 2/5 (28/02/11)
  20. Juno 3/5 (02/03/11)
  21. Monsters vs. Aliens 1/5 (06/03/11)
  22. Jennifer’s Body 2/5 (06/03/11)
  23. Rango 4/5 (09/03/11)
  24. The Crazies 4/5 (11/03/11)
  25. Lakeview Terrace 1/5 (12/03/11)
  26. Battle: Los Angeles 3/5 (13/03/11)
  27. Submarine 4/5 (14/03/11)
  28. The Adjustment Bureau 2/5 (16/03/11)
  29. Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief 2/5 (18/03/11)
  30. The Happening 1/5 (19/03/11)
  31. Sucker Punch 2/5 (02/04/11)
  32. Carriers 1/5 (03/04/11)
  33. Source Code 4/5 (06/04/11)
  34. 3:10 to Yuma 3/5 (09/04/11)
  35. Walking Tall 1/5 (12/04/11)
  36. Your Highness 3/5 (13/04/11)
  37. El Mariachi 3/5 (14/03/11)
  38. From Paris With Love 3/5 (15/04/11)
  39. Scream 4 3/5 (16/04/11)
  40. Hot Tub Time Machine 2/5 (17/04/11)
  41. Attack the Block 4/5 (20/04/11)
  42. The International 2/5 (23/04/11)
  43. Thor 5/5 (25/04/11)
  44. Fast & Furious 5: Rio Heist 5/5 (28/04/11)
  45. A Beautiful Mind 4/5 (06/05/11)
  46. Extract 2/5 (05/05/11)
  47. Hanna 4/5 (06/05/11)
  48. Catfish 3/5 (07/05/11)
  49. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides 2/5 (20/05/11)
  50. The Hangover Part II 3/5 (27/05/11)
  51. How to Train Your Dragon 4/5 (28/05/11)
  52. Zodiac 4/5 (28/05/11)
  53. Up in the Air 5/5 (30/05/11)
  54. X-Men: First Class 4/5 (01/06/11)
  55. Electra Luxx 3/5 (04/06/11)
  56. The Usual Suspects 5/5 (05/06/11)
  57. Senna 5/5 (10/06/11)
  58. The Human Centipede 1/5 (10/06/11)
  59. Green Lantern 2/5 (17/06/11)
  60. Paul 3/5 (18/06/11)
  61. Transformers: Dark of the Moon 4/5 (29/06/11)
  62. Predators 2/5 (30/07/11)
  63. Captain America: The First Avenger 3/5 (31/07/11)
  64. Super 8 5/5 (11/08/11)
  65. The Secret in Their Eyes 5/5 (13/08/11)
  66. [Rec] 2 3/5 (14/08/11)
  67. Rise of the Planet of the Apes 4/5 (16/08/11)
  68. Cowboys & Aliens 4/5 (18/08/11)
  69. Final Destination 5 4/5 (19/08/11)
  70. Micmacs 3/5 (21/08/11)
  71. Conan the Barbarian 3/5 (27/08/11)
  72. Legion 1/5 (27/08/11)
  73. Limitless 3/5 (29/08/11)
  74. Apollo 18 1/5 (02/09/11)
  75. The Warriors 4/5 (04/09/11)
  76. Ondine 3/5 (07/09/11)
  77. TrollHunter 5/5 (09/09/11)
  78. Burke & Hare 2/5 (16/09/11)
  79. Jackass 3 3/5 (16/09/11)
  80. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 5/5 (23/09/11)
  81. Drive 4/5 (28/09/11)
  82. Don’t be Afraid of the Dark 4/5 (12/10/11)

6 Comments

  1. I really enjoyed this too. Suprisingly so. The most shocking part though was my lack of Katie Holmes hate

  2. I had no idea Katie Holmes was in this. If she’s not annoying, then I might actually give it a watch 😉

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