Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973) Horror Thriller Mystery
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973) Movie Release Dates / Movie Details

- Overall Score: ☆ 6.80/10
IMDB: ☆ 6.5/10
Tomatometer: ☆ 7.1/10
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Plot Synopsis:
Synopsis / Plot Summary: A neurotic housewife named Sally and her business exec husband move into Sally"s family house, a spooky two story Victorian mansion. When Sally starts the redecorating along with her pompous decorator she comes across a locked room in the house. After arguing with the handyman who insists she should leave the room locked, she finally gets the key. But once she opens her father"s old study and has the bricks from the fireplace removed, strange things begin to happen. Sally begins to see small creatures everywhere, but no one will believe her. Her husband dismisses her as neurotic and her friend thinks Sally may be losing her mind. But things take a deadly serious turn when the decorator trips at the top of the stairs and falls to his death. Sally sees a rope lying across the place where he tripped, but when she picks it up to take it, a horrifying little creature pulls it from her grasp. Is she crazy? Or has Sally released demons in the house, demons her father summoned?
Tagline: Can you see them, Sally ... hiding in the shadows. They"re alive, Sally. They want you to be one of them when the lights go out.
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Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Movie Information:
Type: MovieYear: 1973 (more 1973 movies)
Production Co.: Lorimar Productions
Language: English
Country: United States
Release Dates: Movie Release Dates / Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Release Dates In Theaters: Oct 10, 1973, DVD: Aug 04, 2009
Producers: Allen S. Epstein, Neil T. Maffeo, Lee Rich
Musicians: Billy Goldenberg
Cinematographers: Andrew Jackson
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Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973) Cast (Click to Expand)
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | Character(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Kim Darby | ... | Sally Farnham |
| Jim Hutton | ... | Alex Farnham |
| Barbara Anderson | ... | Joan Kahn |
| William Demarest | ... | Mr. Harris |
| Pedro Armendáriz Jr. | ... | Francisco Perez (as Pedro Armendariz Jr.) |
| Lesley Woods | ... | Ethyl |
| Robert Cleaves | ... | Doctor |
| Sterling Swanson | ... | Policeman |
| Joel Lawrence | ... | George Kahn (as J.H. Lawrence) |
| William Sylvester | ... | Tom Henderson |
| Don Mallon | ... | Bob |
| Celia Milius | ... | Anne (as Celia Kaye) |
| Elizabeth St. Clair | ... | Party Guest |
| Monika Henreid | ... | Party Guest (as Monica Henreid) |
| Robert Priest | ... | Party Guest |
| Ted Swanson | ... | Bartender |
| Felix Silla | ... | Creature |
| Tamara De Treaux | ... | Creature (as Tamara DeTreaux) |
| Patty Maloney | ... | Creature |
| Nigel McKeand | ... | Demon (uncredited) (voice) |
Fun Facts: 15 Real AGES of Cast
- Kim Darby (b. July 8, 1947) – Sally Farnham
Sign: Cancer - Jim Hutton, as Alex Farnham, passed away at age 45 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Sign: Gemini, Height: 6' 4¾" (1.95 m)
Also known as: Dana J. Hutton | James Hutton - Barbara Anderson (b. November 27, 1945) – Joan Kahn
Sign: Sagittarius - William Demarest – Mr. Harris
- Pedro Armendáriz Jr., as Francisco Perez (as Pedro Armendariz Jr.), passed away at age 71 in New York City, New York, USA.
Sign: Aries
Also known as: Pedro Armandarez Jr. | Pedro Armendariz Jr. | Pedro Armendariz | Pedro Armendáriz | Pedro Armendariz Jnr. | Pedro Armendariz Marquez | Pedro Ármendariz - Lesley Woods – Ethyl
- Robert Cleaves, as Doctor, passed away at age 88 in .
Sign: Sagittarius
Also known as: Bobby Cleaves - Sterling Swanson – Policeman
- Joel Lawrence – George Kahn (as J.H. Lawrence)
- William Sylvester, as Tom Henderson, passed away at age 72 in Butte County, California, USA.
Sign: Aquarius, Height: 6' 3½" (1.92 m)
Also known as: William Sylvestor - Don Mallon – Bob
- Celia Milius (b. February 24, 1942) – Anne (as Celia Kaye)
Sign: Pisces
Also known as: Celia Kaye - Elizabeth St. Clair – Party Guest
- Monika Henreid – Party Guest (as Monica Henreid)
Also known as: Monika Hendreid | Monica Henreid - Robert Priest – Party Guest
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