The squandered potential of ‘Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark’

This time of year is spooky season, and anyone raised in the ’80s and ’90s likely remembers the amazing book “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” by Alvin Schwartz. These stories were both spooky and silly, but I think what most remember are the haunting illustrations that accompanied these stories.

You can imagine my delight a few years back when it was announced horror icon Guillermo del Torro would be involved in the film adaptation. “Two tickets immediately, please!”

However, when the film debuted in 2019 to mixed reviews, I sighed heavily and relegated it to a DVD or streaming viewing sometime down the road.

A few nights back, the wife and I stumbled upon it on Peacock, turned the lights off and snuggled in for what we hoped would be a spooky, good time.

We were disappointed.

Set in the 1960s, the story centers around Stella, Auggie and Chuck in Smalltown, USA. These three nerds prepare for Halloween shenanigans, and Chuck is determined to take down the school bully Tommy. After giving him a taste of his own medicine, the trio hightail it into the drive-in and end up hiding in the car of mysterious Ramon, a new kid passing through town. Tommy and his goons find and threaten them with a baseball bat before other patrons force them to leave. Stella then invites Ramon to a local haunted house where we learn about Sarah Bellows, the legendary ghost whose family horribly mistreated her.

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