Are You Afraid of the Dark? is known as one of the greatest horror anthology shows geared towards younger audiences. Alongside similar series like Goosebumps and Courage the Cowardly Dog, it joined the ranks of the golden era of family-friendly horror in the ’90s. Originally airing on the Canadian channel YTV and eventually Nickelodeon, the show was co-produced by Nickelodeon and Cinar, and created by D.J. MacHale and Ned Kandel. It ran for seven seasons and has been creeping out its viewers ever since its first episode aired. The series’ first reboot was released in 1999 and another more modern one headed by Nickelodeon, came out in 2019, with new episodes still on their way to the small screen.
An article from Diabolique Magazine reads, “It was a series that appealed to ardent horror fans and casual genre toe-dippers alike; if you were seeking out chills either on a regular basis or just the occasional sleepover, Are You Afraid of the Dark? had you covered.” Each episode follows a different story told around a campfire by the Midnight Society, a gathering of teens who come together to compare terrifying tales. While some of its episodes were just filled with campy characters and not-so-scary premises, others had some genuine spook factor that has remained in the imaginations of ’90s kids for years. Let’s take a look back at the scariest episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark?, ranked.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 “The Tale of the Nightly Neighbors”
Nickelodeon
This first season episode follows siblings Dayday and Emma Toll. After watching an old horror film, they discover that their new neighbors are hiding a dark secret that has strange similarities to that of the movie monsters. Dressed in dark clothes, showing off mysteriously-shaped boxes, and collecting large quantities of blood, the European couple moves mysteriously around the neighborhood as the Tolls try to unravel their true nature.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
6 “The Tale of the Night Shift”
In the halls of a hospital, Amanda is a volunteer working late when she witnesses the increasingly strange behavior of her coworkers as the long hours roll on. When a vampire appears out of nowhere and starts biting hospital workers and patients, Amanda teams up with Felix after he discovers a coffin in the basement that seems to be the source of the outbreak. A review from Gayly Dreadful stated, “This really does make me feel like I’ve watched a vampire slasher movie in twenty minutes.”
5 “The Tale of the Dollmaker”
Creepy dolls are a hallmark of quality horror, and this episode is no exception. Melissa goes to the countryside in hopes of visiting her friend Susan, but soon discovers a dollhouse that looks exactly like Susan’s real house. She’s horrified to discover a miniature Susan trapped inside, who is slowly becoming a broken-down porcelain version of herself. Melissa soon follows suit after she figures out how to save her friend, and has to race against time before her body physically begins to shatter too.
4 “The Tale of the Midnight Madness”
Pete and Katie try to save an old movie theater from closing down when they encounter the mysterious Dr. Vink, who offers that his homemade vampire movie will do the trick. As a result of the showing, crowds are flocking to the theater again, but everything changes when Nosferatu himself seems to come straight from the screen into the real world. All hell breaks loose after he bites the theater’s manager, Mr. Kristoph, and Peter and Katie have to banish the beast in order to truly rescue their workplace.
3 “The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner”
Ethan is an aspiring young comic book artist who gets invited to a new comic shop before the public gets to go inside. He receives a special edition comic book about the Ghastly Grinner, a creepy jester villain that scared his original creator into only writing one story about him. The Grinner soon leaps from the pages into Ethan’s reality, causing his parents to drip blue slime from their mouths and giggle nonstop. Introducing an iconic villain with Joker-like tendencies, this episode is definitely nightmare fuel.
2 “The Tale of the Laughing in the Dark”
As one of the best anthology horror series of all time, Are You Afraid of the Dark? wouldn’t be complete without a creepy clown episode. At an amusement park, Josh gives his sister Kathy and best friend Weegee a hard time for being too scared to go into the haunted house. Kathy claims it’s haunted by Zeebo the clown, and Josh enters the attraction alone, snatching Zeebo’s red nose to prove his bravery. But Zeebo follows him out into the real world, leaving terrifying messages and signs that may just stick in your memory as well.
1 “The Tale of the Deadman’s Float”
Finally, this nightmarish episode follows Zeke and Clorice as they skulk around their school’s abandoned swimming pool, which has been closed down for years after mysterious incidents involving an invisible creature. After realizing that the place was built on an old burial ground, Zeke uses his science skills to draw the creature out and into the open. He and Clorice eventually run from a red rotting corpse as it rises from the depths. This story really puts a new meaning into its title, and with its dark and realistic imagery, this may be the most memorable Are You Afraid of the Dark? episode out there.
