Nickelodeon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark? ‘90s horror anthology series raised a generation of young horror fans with its teen-centric spooky stories and characters. Each episode, the Midnight Society – a group of scary story loving teens – gathered around a campfire in the woods to submit tales of terror for the approval of their peers. Now, just in time for the Halloween season, the Midnight Society is back with a limited 3-part series. Giving the series a daring new facelift, the new Are You Afraid of the Dark? nails the unenviable task of appeasing old-school fans of the original while appealing to the current generation of budding horror fans. It’s a triumph.
This three-part, self-contained limited series begins with an introduction to Rachel (Lyliana Wray), the awkward new girl in the town of Argento, Oregon. Being the new kid in class comes with its own set of stressors, but Rachel also suffers from nightmares of Mr. Tophat (Rafael Casal) and his Ray Bradbury-esque Carnival of Doom. When some of her fellow students notice her way of combatting her fears, as well as her love of horror, she’s offered a chance to join the mysterious Midnight Society. That is, if she can pass their initiation test.
Directed by Dean Israelite and developed by BenDavid Grabinski, “Part One: Submitted for Your Approval” shifts the focus to the Midnight Society, whereas they’d only been the mere background to the anthology stories in its previous iteration. The episode takes its time to introduce Gavin, played by Sam Ashe Arnold; Akiko, played by Miya Cech (Rim of the World); Louise, played by Tamara Smart (Artemis Fowl, The Worst Witch); and Graham, played by Jeremy Taylor (It, Goosebumps 2:Haunted Halloween). The horrors of Rachel’s first story submission, based on her nightmares, bleed over into her waking life. Something that will affect them all. The Midnight Society is no longer passive storytellers in this reimagining, they’ll be confronting horror head on with their own sense of agency.
Israelite and Grabinski offer up the perfect blend of modern reinvention and nostalgia. There are enough callbacks to the original series and horror nods to appease the older crowd, but it’s handled with a deft touch that doesn’t feel overt and forced. The writing, themes, and cast all show a clear respect for its youthful audience, too. In other words, Are You Afraid of the Dark? manages to successfully reel in all generations. This is a limited series by clear fans of the original series looking to pass on that affection to new fans.
Aside from the creativity the showrunners and crew have injected into this new version, the production value is fantastic. When Rachel does delve more into the Carnival of Doom, the horror set pieces are immersive and atmospheric. While it remains to be seen how effective of a central villain Mr. Tophat will be for the Midnight Society, his traveling carnival is foreboding. It helps that it evokes that fall feel we associate with Halloween.
Between Creepshow, The Twilight Zone, Two Sentence Horror Stories, and more, we seem to be in the midst of an anthology series resurgence. Judging by Part One, Are You Afraid of the Dark? is shaping up to be a clear stand out in a crowded playing field. A gorgeous production, a talented cast, and a clear reverence for the material make for a compelling introduction to a limited event for which both young and old alike will be celebrating. So far, it’s a winning return to a classic series we loved growing up.
Are You Afraid of the Dark? Part One premieres Friday, October 11 at 7:00pm (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. Look for Part Two and Part Three to air on October 18 and October 25.
