Horror and science fiction have always been a part of the television canvas, and constant attempts have been made over the years to produce classic entertainment. Some have fallen by the wayside, while others became mainstream phenomena. With “TV Terrors,” we take a look back at the many genre efforts from the 80’s, 90’s, and 00’s, exploring some shows that became cult classics, and others that sank in to obscurity.
In this installment we revisit the original version of “Are You Afraid of the Dark?“.
- Aired from 1990 – 2000
- Aired on Nickelodeon; YTV
Even for all of the preteen fluff it touts today, once upon a time Nickelodeon was a network anxious to take risks and break the mold in the realm of children’s television. They were never afraid to get experimental (Remember “Roundhouse”?), they often challenged their audience (“Nick News”), and often times they also never hesitated to get a bit edgy. “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” is celebrated today as a fond relic of the nineties, but also as one of the many approaches to entertainment aimed at kids that treated them with the utmost respect.
Looking back on it today, while it is a bit tame in corners, “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” was intense. If you could imagine being a child on a Saturday night, cozying up in front of the television, leaving the safety of “Clarissa Explains it All” and entering in to the spooky realms of “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” then you’re almost where most kids were in that era. Was there anything better than tuning in to SNICK every Saturday night to watch what Nickelodeon had in store for you before bed time? One of the most memorable facets of SNICK—hell, one of the highlights of the 90s era of Nickelodeon—was “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”
Created by DJ MacHale and Ned Kandel (of “Ghostwriter” fame), “Are you Afraid of the Dark?” premiered in 1990 and was a single camera horror anthology series that dripped pure horror and fantasy from every pore. The series featured a variety of horror, mystery, and science fiction oriented short tales as told by a collective of teenagers named “The Midnight Society.” Every episode began with a group of kids that would gather in the woods around a campfire during the night, united by their love for terrifying tales, and tell a scary story that usually had a connection to something going on in their lives. Though the series itself was an anthology, the show’s bookends revolved around the recurring characters of “The Midnight Society.”
Every episode began with some minor conflict or occurrence at the start of a meeting which would inspire one of the members to tell a haunting campfire tale. While every episode garnered creative and original stories (as well as presenting modern twists on classic urban legends and American Folklore), the writers also made sure to include subtle life lessons that the audience could take away. Each story explored complex concepts and themes like dealing with grief, the consequences of stealing, the price of lying, the cost of superficiality, greed, and claiming responsibility for your actions. The themes were always subtle, though, and never actually preached to the intended audience.
Half of the time though episodes like “The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner” and “The Tale of the Night Shift” were there just to scare the bejeezus out of us before Nick at Nite came on. It also helped that the mysterious characters from “The Midnight Society” were genuinely likable individuals, relatable in their utter enthusiasm and creativity. Though the campfire was a frame work to introduce the stories, there were also conflicts that occurred among the teens that could sometimes jeopardize the group. The show captivated viewers because it tapped into a common, somewhat ancient ritual among horror fans and storytellers. Who among us hasn’t, at one time or another, told a scary story in front of a campfire or by candle light?
Watching the series effectively made you one of The Midnight Society’s unofficial members.
Among some of the best episodes featured in its seven season (91 episodes) run was “The Tale of the Twisted Claw” in which two young boys receive a magical claw from a neighbor that grants them three wishes a piece. As with the classic “The Monkey’s Paw,” the boys learn to be careful what you wish for, and that every wish has a morbid consequence. There’s “The Tale of the Midnight Madness” in which a local multiplex is granted a rare print of “Nosferatu” on the stipulation that they play the owner’s other films. When they go back on their promise, the films begin taking on a life of their very own. Another classic is “The Tale of the Water Demons” in which two cousins steal from a collector of sunken treasures, only to learn that the owner of the artifacts is menaced by deadly demons that rise from their watery graves whenever the owner sleeps.
Arguably the scariest episode of the series is “The Tale of the Laughing in the Dark” in which a young boy is dared to steal the nose from Zeebo the clown at a haunted circus attraction. When the boy begins getting taunted by the mysterious clown, he has to figure out how to get it back to its rightful place. “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” is still admired for being bold enough to scare the pants off of its young viewers, while also appealing to older audiences, with tales that were thematically edgy and atmospherically dark. It’s a treasured horror series that brought to life some of the most haunting monsters and demons imaginable. The show has since become a mainstay for many, appearing on various outlets including Teen Nick, and most recently began airing on Pluto TV.
With a reboot of the series now airing on Nickelodeon, “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” promises to win a brand new generation of budding horror fans and storytellers alike.
Is It On DVD/Blu-Ray? “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” was out of reach for some years there, but thankfully it can now be found on many outlets. You can currently watch repeats on Pluto TV, and various episodes can be purchased on Youtube, Vudu, iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon Prime Video. You can also purchase the whole series on DVD in volumes.
