Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark (2019) Trailer 1 (Universal Pictures)

Directed by André Øvredal and produced by Guillermo del Toro, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) is a chilling horror film based on the iconic book series by Alvin Schwartz, featuring Stephen Gammell’s haunting illustrations. The movie captures the essence of childhood fear while delivering an engaging blend of nostalgia and terror.

Plot Summary

Set in 1968 in the small town of Mill Valley, the story follows a group of teens who discover a mysterious, cursed book in a local haunted house. The book, once owned by Sarah Bellows, a reclusive and tormented girl, begins to write terrifying stories by itself. These stories come to life, targeting each of the teens in gruesome and supernatural ways.

As the group scrambles to uncover the truth about Sarah Bellows and her dark secrets, they must confront their deepest fears and attempt to stop the curse before it consumes them all.

Key Cast

• Zoe Colletti as Stella Nicholls: A budding writer and the group’s leader, Stella is haunted by her past and determined to solve the mystery of Sarah Bellows.
• Michael Garza as Ramón Morales: A drifter hiding his own secrets, Ramón becomes Stella’s ally in the fight against the book’s horrors.
• Gabriel Rush as Auggie Hilderbrandt: The cautious and skeptical member of the group, Auggie falls victim to one of the book’s terrifying tales.
• Austin Zajur as Chuck Steinberg: Chuck’s humor masks his underlying fear, making his fate in the story all the more tragic.
• Natalie Ganzhorn as Ruth Steinberg: Chuck’s sister, who must face her own horrifying tale involving a grotesque spider infestation.

Monsters and Stories

The film brings several of Schwartz’s most famous stories to life, featuring unforgettable creatures such as:

• Harold: A menacing scarecrow who exacts revenge on a bully.
• The Pale Lady: A ghastly figure from the tale “The Dream,” whose slow, deliberate pursuit is nightmare-inducing.
• The Jangly Man: A disjointed, terrifying creation from the story “Me Tie Dough-ty Walker.”
• The Big Toe: A tale of a corpse seeking its missing toe, delivering an eerie blend of humor and horror.
• The Spider Bite: A grotesque realization of one of the series’ most iconic and skin-crawling stories.