Nightbooks

‘NIGHTBOOKS‘, a film that the kiddies should get a massive kick out of this Halloween, is now lurking in a dark corner over on Netflix.

Directed by David Yarovesky, it tells the story of a young boy obsessed with scary stories that gets trapped in a witch’s magical apartment. Of course, the major selling point with this murky children’s fantasy is the fact it was produced by the legendary Sam Raimi.

And Raimi’s influence hangs heavy in the latter stages of the film, especially during the forest scenes, where his cult horror ‘Evil Dead‘ series is venerated in every frame.

But don’t worry, Yarovesky’s film is sugar-coated to teeth-rotting levels for younger audiences and, if anything, seems to owe more to ‘Harry Potter‘ than ‘Ashy Slashy‘.

Alex (Winslow Fegley), is a creative kid with a gift for writing spine-tingling scary stories, but he lacks many of the social graces needed to make new friends. Nicknamed ‘Creepshow‘ by his classmates, Alex instead becomes lost in a world of goblins and ghouls, penning his own ghastly tales like a young Stephen King.

But after one rejection too many, things take a darker turn for young Alex and his nightmarish fantasies become his frightening reality when he is trapped by the wicked witch Natacha (Krysten Ritter), who is more pantomime enchantress than horror show sorceress.

Also trapped in her otherworldly pad is Yasmin (Lidya Jewett), a young prisoner who has learned to survive the witch’s wicked whims.

With Yasmin’s help, Alex must learn to embrace his weirdness, the thing that makes him unique, because if he doesn’t, they will have no chance to escape Natacha’s evil clutches.

‘Nightbooks‘ is full of cheap thrills and fairytale curiosity, which is sure to delight young audiences this Halloween.

Yarovesky, however, doesn’t break any moulds, and plays it safe for the most part. Still, the little homage to Sam Raimi towards the end is a nice touch, and the film’s message of embracing your weirdness and being yourself, has to be applauded.

(3/5)