If you’re in the mood for some old-school scares, Guillermo del Toro’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is free to watch on several streaming platforms, such as FuboTV, MovieSphere+, and Prime Video.
The 2019 horror movie brings the creepy creatures from Alvin Schwartz’s beloved book series to the big screen, and ironically, those books were among the most banned in the U.S. during the 1990s, with parents upset over their gruesome stories and disturbing imagery.
Now, seven years later, all that unsuitable material for children is available to watch from the comfort of your couch, and considering del Toro has defended the idea of kids experiencing horror, the whole thing feels like a pretty funny twist.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: ‘90s Parents’ Worst Nightmare
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark / Credits: HarperCollins
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark / Credits: Scholastic
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark / Credits: Lionsgate Films
For kids growing up in the ‘90s, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark was too irresistible: creepy tales, gruesome twists, and Stephen Gammell’s nightmare-inducing illustrations that could make even a quick trip to the library feel dangerous. For plenty of parents, though, the books crossed a line.
The series was the most challenged book series in the United States during the 1990s, with complaints ranging from violence and cannibalism to occult themes, Satanism, and the idea that the stories were simply too disturbing for children.
One particularly telling example appeared in The Argus-Press on April 7, 1995, in a report titled Parents Upset Over Books They Say Are Inappropriate. Jean Jaworski, a mother of a fifth grader, singled out the story “Wonderful Sausage,” in which a butcher grinds people into sausage and sells it to customers. She argued:
Right away I thought of Jeffrey Dahmer. It’s just not appropriate for children.
She asked the school board to remove it from the library, but a special committee unanimously voted to keep the books, and the appeal was ultimately rejected.
It is understandable why the books freaked some parents out. These weren’t exactly cozy ghost stories. Schwartz’s tales dealt with murder, death, dismemberment, cannibalism and other gruesome subjects, while Gammell’s illustrations took those ideas and made them look even more horrifying.
Interestingly, the books weren’t necessarily teaching kids to be violent or frightening them for no reason; they were retellings of folklore and scary tales that gave children a safe way to explore things they already feared.
Guillermo del Toro on Children Being Exposed to the Horror Genre
Guillermo del Toro / Credits: Sunday Morning on YouTube
Del Toro never really bought into the idea that children should be completely shielded from scary stories. While promoting Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark in 2019, he argued that horror movies can actually give kids a safe way to explore some of the darker things they’re already curious about. He said at the event (via GamesRadar):
I think that the tragedy of horror is to not have your parents talk to you about it. It’s great for kids to see these stories and share them with their parents. When you’re a kid you’re curious about two things, s*x and death. The rest you can figure out in a manual. Both are infinite mysteries when you’re young, and a lot of parents shy away from those two things.
This perspective is very interesting considering the controversy surrounding Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark itself. The books were repeatedly challenged by parents who felt their gruesome stories and imagery were inappropriate for children.
The Mexican director, meanwhile, sees horror as something worth confronting rather than hiding. In his view, it can become a bonding experience between parents and kids. Indeed, there’s something refreshing about the idea that, instead of saying, “You’re too young to see this,” the better response might be, “Let’s watch it together.”
What are your thoughts on children watching and reading horror? Share them in the comments!
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is currently available to watch on Prime Video.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
