The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Review Request: Afraid of the Dark (1991)

What type of fear and anxiety arises from lack of sight? The feeling of not seeing the world around you must be a heavy weight that lies on your shoulders. Especially if you are someone who lived their life with the benefit of sight then must adjust to not having it can be scary. Writer/director Mark Peploe explores many things in his genre, bending film from 1991, Afraid of the Dark, but it is sight that makes the biggest impact. There some interesting about the idea of a child’s imagination running rampant in a world where others cannot possibly see the dangers of this world coming straight for them. There is the power of sight for sure but there is also the power of our minds and what our minds force us to see.

How does Peploe leverage such compelling ideas for this eerie and twisted film that sits comfortably in so many genres? The overall feel of the film is something dreamlike and compelling. There is a tinge of cloudiness in many frames that feels like it was there to give the audience the feeling that not everything on screen can be trusted. Have you ever been betrayed, harmed, and challenged because of the outcomes of dreams? There are some truly haunting and unnerving visuals that fill out the climax of this film. You can tell Peploe is at his most comfortable and creative when he is exploring the blurring line between reality and dream for our young protagonist. There are interesting decisions made that reinforce the motifs and themes of sight and how they weigh on the fragile mind of our young protagonist. Even before the film becomes more eerie and abstract, there is a specific atmosphere and feel that creates tension. Some sharp editing choices and sound elements help craft the right atmosphere to keep the audience on the edge of their seat.

Does the writing match the detailed craftsmanship that creates this eerie cinematic experience? Unfortunately, there are many holes and loose threads when it comes to the story. Peploe tries to tackle a lot of themes, motifs, and ideas in this genre mash-up of a film. At the core, we have this young boy exploring sight, dreams, and violence. He is surrounded by those without sight (including his mother). There are challenges that come with his own vision as well. The film builds up to a point where he needs work done to his own eyes. But in an interesting twist, this young boy doesn’t just struggle with not seeing but also struggles with seeing what he shouldn’t. There are threads of voyeurism thrown in along with the straining of his reality. There is a plot thread about a serial violence against visually impaired women that is not fully explored. The behavior of our young protagonist also starts to rear some dark turns. Sneaking out and stalking his mother’s friend. A penchant for violence (that greatly affects a poor dog…so trigger warning). An unexpected twist decision with a young infant that takes the tale into its dark and twisted finale (which makes you question the reality of it all).

How does the cast bring this unnerving world to life? Ben Keyworth has a lot placed on his shoulders as he must anchor this whole film down. This is a strange child for sure, but Keyworth delivers a performance that is uncomfortable and offbeat. His inquisitive nature shines through and you can see this child slowly losing touch with reality. You have two strong performances from the actors who portray their parents as they stand out in different ways. James Fox is a classic British actor, and he brings a stiff upper lip to the policeman father. His reserved nature and distance make for an effective dynamic which gives Lucas (Keyworth) space to lose his anchor to reality. Fanny Ardant delivers a powerful and charismatic performance as she brings Lucas’ mother to life. She is alluring and compelling to watch and you can feel this connection between her and her son. There are some undertones to this dynamic from a thematic standpoint and Ardant’s performance is essential to make that connection felt. The rest of the film is filled with effective and engaging supporting turns from so good character actors (including David Thewlis who pops up briefly).

Is Afraid of the Dark a compelling and engrossing thriller? This film has a lot of intriguing elements that are presented but not all of them feel fully realized or processed. Peploe certainly captures some intensity and suspense throughout the film with the right atmosphere. There are some unnerving sequences that deliver horror (including a big climax that delivers an abstract illusion that weaves in plenty of the film’s themes). There are some compelling explorations of the film’s themes such as sight, violence, and fraying reality that all make impactful imprints on the cinematic experience. Afraid of the Dark might try to tackle too much without fully fleshing out some of those elements but it is still an intense experience that works on a horror level.

Special thanks to Carl Kelsch for the nomination of Afraid of the Dark (1991)!