While we won't see another Guillermo Del Toro directed film until 2013's Pacific Rim, the Mexican director has produced a horror film for release on August 26. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark stars Guy Pearce and Katie Holmes and is directed by comic book artist Troy Nixey, who has worked with industry luminaries including Mike Mignola, P. Craig Russel and Matt Wagner.
Because there's no way someone could come up with an idea this good on their own, the flick is based on a 1973 made-for-television movie of the same name, most famous for having the living bejeezus syndicated out of it and a VHS release with a design that is simultaneously horrible and terrifying.
Is this quirky and alternative enough for a Mondo Video release?
With gothic surroundings, a knowing elderly groundskeeper, evil breathy voices and a precocious kid to hear them, the trailer is pretty standard horror flick fare. That said, Del Toro has a pretty great track record with this spooky, atmospheric type of stuff, even having produced The Orphanage, another "kids in a haunted house" movie, and whoever put the trailer together was at least smart enough to keep Katie Holmes and her acting in the background.
