‘Don’t Be Afraid of The Dark’ (1973) 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review – Beware Things That Go Bump In The Night

When Sally inherits a beautiful Victorian mansion from her grandmother, she and her husband Alex waste no time moving in. During renovations, she comes across a mysterious locked study. Despite pleas from the local handyman who insists she leave things be, Sally finally happens upon the key. Inside, she discovers a reinforced fireplace that was sealed long ago, and the handyman insists she not try to open it. Soon after entering the room, Sally begins to see small, menacing creatures all over the house, but no one will believe her. Alex thinks she’s just neurotic, and her friend Joan thinks she’s merely another bored housewife seeking attention. Meanwhile, the macabre creatures keep calling her to join them, as Sally too begins to question her sanity. As she spirals closer and closer to madness, the shocking truth of the house’s past starts to unravel, with death close behind.

One of the most celebrated and beloved horror Movie Of The Week telefilms of the 1970s, helmed by master small screen director John Newland (TV’s Star Trek, Night Gallery), DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK has resonated with and inspired generations of fans and filmmakers alike, including Guillermo del Toro, who produced and co-wrote a 2010 theatrical remake. Evincing an atmosphere of true doom, terrifying forced perspective creature effects, and bold performances from Kim Darby (True Grit, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers) and Jim Hutton (Hellfighters, Psychic Killer), Iconoscope is proud to present for its debut release, the 4K UHD premiere of this intensely creepy creature feature, newly restored from a 4K scan of its original camera negative.

For previous thoughts on Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, please check out my Blu-Ray review here. 

For additional thoughts on Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark begins the new Iconoscope line with a fresh 4K UHD debut sourced from a 5K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative with Dolby Vision/HDR. The film was previously released on Blu-Ray in 2019 courtesy of Warner Archive from a 4K scan. Additional restoration has been conducted by the Vinegar Syndrome team along with the implementation of HDR. As much as we admire this new release, the Warner Archive Blu-Ray release was dazzling in its own right. Nevertheless, this 4K UHD Blu-Ray makes incremental improvements to give fans the definitive release. 

The transfer retains the ideal amount of natural film grain, which lends itself to detailed looks at the production design, creature effects, and costumes. The image throughout the disc is almost entirely clear of dirt and print damage, as well as unwanted digital anomalies such as compression artifacts or banding. There are a few blink-and-you’ll-miss-it imperfections, but it is an amazing transfer overall. Skin tones look natural throughout this transfer. There is quite a bit that takes place in shadowy spaces that is accompanied by deep black levels free of any crush, thanks to the complexity of the Dolby Vision transfer. The low-budget nature of the production can be surmised, but the transfer represents it as was intended in a way that is quite stunning. Iconoscope did not cut any corners with this transfer, and it serves as a fantastic debut from the new imprint. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray release arrives with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track that suits the story perfectly. Dialogue comes through crystal clear with no exchanges hampered by competing sonic elements. None of the sound effects or the score ever overpowers the dialogue on this release. There are not especially kinetic here, but there are environmental details that are lively in the speakers. There does not appear to be any obvious damage or age-related wear to the track. Overall, this is an excellent audio presentation that suits the material really well. Optional English SDH subtitles are available on the disc.

Special Features

• Audio Commentaries: This release provides two archival commentary tracks. The group track is a decent listen for those who appreciate a casual atmosphere, but the newer track with Amanda Reyes is the one to listen to if you really want to gain some knowledge about this production. 
  • Audio Commentary #1: Steve “Uncle Creepy” Barton (Dread Central), Screenwriter Jeffrey Reddick (Final Destination, Day of the Dead ) and Sean Abley (Fangoria)
  • Audio Commentary #2: Amanda Reyes (Made for TV Mayhem)
• Setting Evil Free – A Locations ‘Then and Now’ Featurette: A nearly three-minute piece that shows locations from the movie from a modern-day perspective. 
• Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring an essay by Amanda Reyes is provided that explores the women in director John Newland’s television work. 
•  

Final Thoughts

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark is a fun bit of made-for-TV horror that never gets intense enough to give you nightmares, yet still supplies a decent number of chills to get you into the Halloween spirit. You will want to yell at some of the characters for the choices they make, but that is part of the fun of spooky outings. The creature effects are pulled off well, even with their charmingly dated qualities. The performances get the job done, even if no one performer seems to be stretching their talents. Iconoscope has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring an exceptional A/V presentation and some informative supplements. If you love the special vibe of a made-for-TV horror film, this will serve you well. Recommended 

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray. 

Disclaimer: Vinegar Syndrome and Iconoscope have supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.