Back in my day, a horror book series entitled SCRAY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK terrified children with its heavily researched and well-told tales of folklore and urban legends. Written by Alvin Schwartz with delightfully macabre art by Stephen Gammell, the series spanned three volumes (Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones) throughout the years 1981-1991. As decades have passed on, the collection has became a staple of any respectable horror novel collection, and the cause for countless nightmares for those willing to brave the stories told within.
Today, its' been announced that famed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro will produce and co-write SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK, a film set to be co-financed by Entertainment One and CBS Films. Writing the project will be Daniel Hagerman and Kevin Hageman, who in the past have contributed to the scripts for both THE LEGO MOVIE and HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA. Del Toro will join the duo on writing duties, with Andre Ovredal (THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE, TROLLHUNTER) poised to direct. The project is set to film in Toronto this summer.
When SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK spooks its way onto the big screen, the film will follow a group of young teens who must solve the mystery surrounding sudden and macabre deaths in their small town.
Well, this is certainly the best news ever! Close up shop, Friday news cycle, because I doubt anything is going to top this. Straight up, I think del Toro is an inspired choice to help get this long-gestating project out of the grave and into the light. There are a myriad of frightening tales included in the collection that can be used to make one hell of horror film, and I have no doubt that del Toro and his team will sink their teeth into this project with a tenacious bite.
Have you ever read Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark? What are some of your favorite fictions from the series? Personally, I think 'Thumpity-Thump', 'The Dead Hand', 'The Little Black Dog', and 'Something Was Wrong' would look great up on the big screen.