AFRAID OF THE DARK (DVD) DOL DIG STEREO/1.85:1 DVD

Afraid of the Dark
A young boy comes to fear that his blind mother may become the next victim of a serial killer in this complex psychological thriller. Unfolding at first as a traditional suspense tale, the film follows the terrified boy's attempts to determine the killer's identity, a task his policeman father has failed to achieve. Things take a more provocative and puzzling turn when the boy's penchant for fantasy is revealed, forcing the audience to question whether what has been shown has been real or merely a product of the boy's imagination. As a result, much of the anxiety in Afraid of the Dark emerges not from the violent shocks, but from the uncertain reality and the tantalizing, disturbing hints of the child's psychology. This purposeful ambiguity may strike some viewers as confusing and alienating, despite the film's assured performances and striking imagery. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

Cast Ben Keyworth as Lucas James Fox as Frank Paul McGann as Tony Dalton Fanny Ardant as Miriam Clare Holman as Rose Robert Stephens as Dan Burns Susan Wooldridge as Lucy Trent

Crew Stephen Scott - Art Director Paul Cridlin - Boom Operator Lucy Boulting - Casting Caitlin Rhodes - Casting Louise Stjernsward - Costume Designer Jonathan Benson - First Assistant Director Mark Peploe - Director Scott Thomas - Editor Laurie Parker - Executive Producer Jean Nachbaur - Executive Producer Joan Carpenter - Hair Styles Nick Daubeny - Location Manager Richard Hartley - Composer (Music Score) Jason Osborn - Composer (Music Score) Sallie Evans - Makeup Dominique Pinto - Camera Operator Caroline Amies - Production Designer Bruno de Keyzer - Cinematographer Mary Richards - Production Manager Simon Bosanquet - Producer Sylvaine Sainderichin - Producer Robin O'Donoghue - Sound Mixer Tony Jackson - Sound Recordist Martin Grace - Stunts Coordinator John Markwell - Special Effects Supervisor Mark Peploe - Screenwriter Belinda Chapman - Animal Trainer/Wrangler Kate Barton - Unit Publicist Jennifer Patrick - Dialogue Coach Jack Collins - Gaffer Richard Broome - Grip Gary Hutchings - Grip Tommie Manderson - Makeup Supervisor Andrew Glen - Music Editor Patsy De Lord - Production Coordinator Maxie McDonald - Properties Julie Robinson - Script Supervisor Melvin Lind - Second Assistant Director Simon Mein - Still Photographer Mark Auguste - Supervising Sound Editor Shirley Shaw - ADR Editor Sophia Müller - Art Department Assistant Dominic Masters - Assistant Art Director Ron Watkins - Assistant Location Manager Martin Lee - Assistant Location Manager Jeremy Child - Assistant Sound Editor Jill Quertier - Buyer Richard Fettes - Dialogue Editor Terry Townsend - Electrician Graham Holley - Electrician Peter Wing - Electrician Val Farmer - First Assistant Accountant Jeremy Gibbs - First Assistant Editor Michele Tandy - Production Accountant Rona Buchanan - Second Assistant Editor Barry Arnold - Set Dresser Andrew Palmer - Set Dresser Jean-Hugue Oppel - Focus Puller John Jordan - Focus Puller Susie Harmsworth - Runner Trevor Wright - Runner Anthony Ford - Third Assistant Director Ciaran Donnelly - Carpenter David John Kelly - Carpenter Martin Duffy - Carpenter Peter Duffey - Carpenter Charlie Cottrell - Painter John Hersey - Painter Michael Hersey - Painter

Afraid of the Dark
A film that is likely to divide people along pretty rigid lines, Afraid of the Dark at least deserves credit for trying to be something different. That won't be enough for many, who will find it much too slow, incredibly confusing and ultimately unsatisfying. But for those who "get" the film, Dark will be a very rewarding experience. Dark is set up to frustrate most of the audience; starting out as one kind of very familiar (and chillingly effective) thriller, it abruptly switches gears entirely in the middle and becomes a psychological study of a very different sort. Those who can deal with this change will find Dark a fascinating study, not only of a young boy in the throes of a difficult psychological situation but of the art of filmmaking itself. Ideas about identity, character, truth, reality and motivation are shaken and questioned in what some will find an absorbing manner. These same people will also probably appreciate a degree of artificiality in portions of the performances and of underplaying by the young lead actor, an appreciation that will not be shared by detractors. Enigmatic and disturbing, Dark is not for everyone, but will be embraced enthusiastically by those with whom it does resonate. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
 

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General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel DTS: Digital Theater Systems (akin to 5.1) DDS2.0: Dolby Digital w/ 4 channels of sound from a 2-channel stereo mix. Additional Features: DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1: Vistavision MPAA Rating: R DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 92 min   DVD Chapters: Disc #1 -- Afraid of the Dark 1. Main Title [4:34] 2. The Reach Out House: Meeting Rose [9:25] 3. Another Frightful Attack [10:07] 4. The Cemetery and the Underground [9:35] 5. Toby to the Rescue [5:04] 6. Rose Models [4:17] 7. Wedding Day [7:38] 8. The Reception [4:19] 9. New Vision [4:46] 10. Toby's Last Visit [6:57] 11. Returning to the Scene of the Crime [8:31] 12. Baby Sister Comes Home [4:20] 13. Too Close to Tess [5:43] 14. After the Operation [3:33] 15. End Credits [2:41]