Controversial Horror Books For Kids Turned Into Frightening Movie
It’s not often that books meant for children have content and imagery that are capable of giving adults the chills. But that was certainly the case with the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark book series from the 1980s, each folklore-inspired tale spinning a spine-tingling tale that was accompanied by gruesome illustrations that some would argue are more horrifying than the written words they were set beside.
The controversial stories were adapted for the big screen in 2019 and gave the adults who grew up with nightmare material a chance to shudder again as director Andre Ovredal brought the grotesque pages to life.
Teenagers Stumble Across An Evil Book
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark begins with a wrap-around set-up that takes place on Halloween night in a rural Pennsylvania community. Several of Mill Valley’s teenagers sneak into the local “haunted house” that has belonged to the Bellows family for generations. While illegally inside, Stella, Auggie, Ramon, and Chuck stumble across a long-forgotten secret room that holds an old book.
The book is a collection of horror stories written long ago by Sarah Bellows, a young woman who hanged herself in the late 19th century after being accused of witchcraft. Stella takes the old book with her, and when she gets home, she notices that the once-blank pages at the end of it are now filled with new stories.
The Stories Come To Life
The stories serve as devices to bring to life the ones told in the popular book series. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark sees its characters trapped in the different twisted tales that play out in a similar fashion to their source material. A vengeful corpse who returns from the grave after a body part is stolen, an evil scarecrow that stalks the night, and a particularly gross urban legend involving spider eggs all take form and torment Stella’s friends as the minutes of Halloween night tick past.
Brings The Legendary Book Series To Life
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark gives fans of the books a great adaptation. Though the stories from the 1980s series are certainly deviated from, anyone who loved the Alvin Schwartz books will appreciate the stories chosen for the film version and love the detailed wrap-around story that ties them all together.
Millions Of Copies Sold
Schwartz based his successful book series largely on his extensive research into American folklore. These timeless stories of superstitions and cautionary tales combined with illustrator Stephen Gammell’s wicked drawings give 80s and 90s kids plenty of images to haunt their dreams. With more than 7 million copies sold, the three-book series is one of the most popular horror series geared toward juvenile audiences in the last several decades.
Infamy
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But Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark wasn’t without controversy. The American Library Association says that the series was among the most challenged during the 1990s, largely drawing complaints from parents about graphic illustrations and gruesome subject matter. Perhaps it was the macabre tone that attracted many kids to these stories, as some who grew up in this era cite the series as one that motivated them to read.
