Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: The Documentary: The Review
I was not disappointed. Scary Stories is an engaging profile of the infamous horror trilogy, and has something to offer for both longtime fans of the books and newbies to the series. Though it definitely seems more geared toward people already familiar with Alvin Schwartz's work, the film does an admirable job of explaining just what these books are and the sort of impact they've had over the years.
From the outset, it becomes clear that writer/producer/director Cody Meirick has done his homework, and the film's opening credits sequence features not only an acoustic version of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark's "The Hearse Song," but a backdrop of a pile of books that served both as influences to Schwartz's work, such as Maria Leach's The Thing at the Foot of the Bed, and horror literature for younger audiences from the same era, perhaps the most famous of which belong to R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series. It's a nice touch that contextualizes the Scary Stories books as not merely an island unto themselves, but part of a whole genre that has courted controversy while thrilling children for decades.
In this vein, Meirick explores the history of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, from its insane popularity in libraries across the country, to the resulting outcry from parents, teachers and other arbiters of morality regarding the "evil" content of these books, especially the nightmarish illustrations by Stephen Gammell. Delightfully, the film includes animated sequences by Shane Hunt that lovingly adopt Gammell's signature art style, paying homage to his work in such a way that even the cute little librarian lady seems like she has a dark, ghoulish secret behind her cheery grin. These sequences are an inspired choice, immersing the viewer within the aesthetic of the original books while effectively furthering the narrative.
The film does an excellent job of portraying the lasting impact the books have had on people. Artists and writers are interviewed and offer their perspectives on how Schwartz's books have inspired their own work. Some of Schwartz's contemporaries, such as Bruce Coville and the aforementioned R.L. Stine, pop in to offer their perspectives on the infamous series as well, and it's wonderful to hear how other horror writers of the 80s-90s view Schwartz's books. But perhaps the most interesting and unexpected story is that of Schwartz's son, who had a very complicated relationship with his departed father that he still seems to be grappling with to this day. His childhood stories, and the joy and melancholy therein, are the bittersweet heart of this tale, and watching him grapple with his dad's legacy among both fans and foes of his books is quite engaging. Thus, the audience is afforded a raw glimpse of not just Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark itself, but the life of the man behind it.
In terms of criticism, overall, I found very little to complain about. Meirick did a fantastic job putting this film together, and his affection for Scary Stories is apparent in every shot. The one thing I do wish we had seen more of was Stephen Gammell, the legendary illustrator of these twisted tales, whose artwork has inspired many a pants-soiling. The film does mention him, but also notes that he is quite private and reluctant to agree to interviews and whatnot. As such, it is understandable that we don't hear much about him (and kudos to Meirick for finding an ancient interview with him that provides us with at least a modicum of insight as to his thoughts on all this), but his relative absence here is nonetheless a bit disappointing. Other than that minor quibble, I struggle to think of any complaints I have with the documentary. It is a fascinating, well-rounded film with a clear vision, a fun, fitting score, and a quick pace. If you're a fan of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, do yourself a favor and give it a watch.
Finally, I'd like to note that, as an Indiegogo supporter of this film, I got some neat goodies, including a DVD copy of the film, and this sweet shirt, which I am normally afraid to wear because I know I'm going to immediately spill mustard on it:
And of course, being that I am only human, I had to search for myself in the end credits and point out my name when it showed up on screen like that Leonard DiCaprio meme.
Look, there I am!
Real talk: I have referred to myself as the internet's self-proclaimed greatest authority on Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. I have read the books cover to cover countless times, including all the notes on sources in the back. I own most of the author's other works, and many of the books of myth and folklore from which the scary stories in question are derived. And yet, I still learned some things from this documentary. As I've noted before, this is truly a golden age of Scary Stories fandom, what with a successful feature film, multiple tribute books, and even apparel! But given the date of its announcement, the Scary Stories documentary was at the forefront of this hype, and foreshadowed the renaissance for the franchise that was to come. For this, I am awed, and grateful that I got to be an infinitesimally small part of the production process through Indiegogo. I thank Mr. Meirick for bringing his labor of love to the screen, and for speaking for the rest of us Alvin Schwartz fans in recognition of the man's timeless work that has touched so many lives.
Joey Marsilio has written extensively about the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books, most notably in his Power Rankings Series (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3). He also wrote the novel Henry Garrison: St. Dante's Savior, and re-used the majority of this bio text from a previous blog in a marvelous display of efficiency.
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