Are You Afraid of The Dark? (1990-2022)
Welcome back to our Friday night segment where every week we present a new TV series ranging from horror to science fiction, not forgetting drama!
Tonight, we’re taking a trip down memory lane and talking about “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”, a horror series for kids and beyond.
“Are You Afraid of the Dark?” is a renowned Canadian television series that has left an indelible mark on the hearts of many viewers.
Produced by the Canadian company YTV, the series first aired in 1990 and continued to entertain audiences for seven seasons.
Plot
The plot revolves around the stories told by the members of “The Midnight Society.”
Each episode begins with a group of young people gathered around a campfire in the woods, with one of them presenting a horror story, often with a moral lesson.
These stories range from the supernatural to mystery, tackling themes such as ghosts, monstrous creatures, urban legends, and alternate dimensions.
Each storyteller begins their tale by saying, “Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, I call this story ‘(name of the story)’,” at which point they toss a handful of “midnight dust” from a leather pouch into the fire to enhance the flames and produce an eerie white smoke that kicks off the narration.
The first five seasons of the series were produced between 1990 and 1996 and captivated audiences with their gripping plots and ability to create engaging suspense.
In 1999, the series was revived with the sixth and seventh seasons, introducing a new generation of viewers to longtime fans.
Although some original cast members did not return, the magic of “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” remained intact, delivering moments of pure fear and fun to both new and old generations.
One of the distinctive aspects of the series was its ability to tackle scary themes without ever becoming overly frightening for a younger audience.
“Are You Afraid of the Dark?” proved that horror can be captivating and engaging even without excessive violence or inappropriate content, considering its target audience.
The show became a weekly staple for teenagers in the 1990s.
The kids were old enough to stay up late but not old enough to go out, so they spent almost every Saturday night huddled around TVs with friends or siblings, pretending not to be terrified by that week’s story.
Over the years, it has become a cult icon of horror for kids, leaving a lasting impact on popular culture. The series was praised for its creativity and ability to build tension; even M. Night Shyamalan has stated that one of the episodes served as inspiration for the film The Sixth Sense.
Do you remember it? Let us know in the comments.
