“For me, it was important that the show is OK for the nine-to-12 year range, and that the adults who grew up with the original still enjoy it,” executive producer Matt Kaplan tells TheWrap
A whole new generation of kids are currently being scared by “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” as Nickelodeon’s reboot series airs its third and final terrifying episode on Friday, Oct. 25.
Following in the footsteps of the original ’90s cult series, the 2019 iteration of the horror anthology revolves around a group of young teens dubbed the Midnight Society who tell scary stories around a campfire.
But when new member, Rachel, recounts a story about the Carnival of Doom and Mr. Tophat, the group all wake up the next day to discover that the Carnival of Doom has come to life.
TheWrap recently caught up with series stars Sam Ashe Arnold, Miya Cech, Jeremy Ray Taylor and Lyliana Wray, along with creator/executive producer BenDavid Grabinski and executive producer Matt Kaplan at CREEP in downtown Los Angeles to find out how they found the balance of family-friendly frights.
‘”Are You Afraid of the Dark?’ was my favorite show as a kid. It is what turned me on to horror in general, just the idea of the campfire setting with the kids telling stories felt really authentic and genuine,” Grabinski told TheWrap.
“Watching something scary together is one of the last group experiences we have where you can feel really feel a communal energy,” he said, but “for a while, I don’t think people were making horror content that felt authentic to kids,” Grabinski explained.
Kaplan also grew up devouring horror stories. “My favorite show as a kid was ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark?’ … it was very scary but safely so at that age. When you were 12, it was the scariest thing that ever existed, but when you’re an adult it’s a little different.” Working on the reboot, “I felt like I got to tap into all my nostalgia for the show but also make it new and modern,” he added.
With children today being bombarded by adult content on TV, streaming services and over the internet, parents naturally worry about what is suitable for young viewers.
“For me, it was important that the show is OK for the nine-to-12 year range, and that the adults who grew up with the original still enjoy it,” Kaplan said. “So I tried to remember what scared me at that age, I also have a feeling that as a kid, a happy ending is required. The older you get, I think you can deal better with darker turns. As a kid, you want something that is scary but that the good guys win and everything is OK as it is a little less traumatizing. Whereas the stuff I enjoy as an adult may have the darkest ending imaginable,” he added.
“I think it would be a great thing for parents to watch with their kids. Most kids will be OK but everyone has a different line and it is always subjective,” Kaplan advised.
Series star and “It” alum Taylor said the reboot achieves “an amazing balance between scary stories and showing the chemistry between all the kids — keeping a good balance of the scary while also making a heartwarming story.”
The new “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” is produced by ACE Entertainment (“To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before,” “The Perfect Date”) with ACE founder Kaplan and Spencer Berman serving as executive producers.
The series is written by Grabinski (“Skiptrace”) and directed by Dean Israelite (“Power Rangers” movie, “Project Almanac”), both of whom will also executive produce. Created by D.J. MacHale and Ned Kandel, Nickelodeon’s original “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” series ran from 1992-1996 and 1999-2000.
Watch the video above to find out what the “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” cast is afraid of in real life, and catch the finale on Friday, Oct. 25 on Nickelodeon at 7 p.m. (ET/PT).
Here Are 12 of TV's Best Halloween-Themed Episodes (Photos)
Since it’s the spookiest time of year, TheWrap has rounded up some of TV’s best Halloween-themed episodes (in no particular order) for your post-trick-or-treating binging.
NBC/Comedy Central/CBS
“How I Met Your Mother”: “The Slutty Pumpkin”
The slutty pumpkin is a stand-out episode of Halloween-themed television, not only because of its adherence to the holiday, but because it became a piece of “HIMYM” lore, referenced throughout the sitcom’s nine seasons and even inspiring a later Halloween episode titled “The Slutty Pumpkin Returns.”
CBS
“Friends”: “The One with the Halloween Party”
Who can forget Chandler’s pink bunny costume a la “A Christmas Story”? or Ross’s potato — sorry, spud-nik — outfit? And, yeah, Sean Penn was in this episode, too. All these things plus Rachel freaking out about her maternal instincts puts this episode in the Halloween history books.
NBC
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”: “Halloween III”
Of all of BK99’s Halloween-themed episodes, an office poll brought the third incarnation to the top. In the 99th precinct’s third annual Halloween Heist, the teams shake things up by looking for the same object for bragging rights and the title of Amazing Detective Slash Genius.
NBC
“The Office”: “Halloween”
Though “The Office” has several Halloween-themed episodes throughout its nine seasons, the fifth episode of Season 2 was the first and remains a standout. Michael has to choose one person to lay off, and Jim and Pam try to get Dwight hired somewhere else.
NBC
“Community”: “Epidemiology”
A zombie outbreak set to an endless loop of ABBA’s greatest hits is all we need to say about this one.
NBC
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”: “Who Got Dee Pregnant?”
Things got really scary for the boys at Paddy’s Pub when they found out Dee was pregnant — and suspect one of them could be the father.
FX
“Buffy”: “Halloween”
Before getting deep into its dark Season 2 storyline, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” aired what is arguably the best of the series’ three Halloween-centric episodes, simply titled “Halloween.” The plot centered around the majority of the residents of Sunnydale all being turned into real-life versions of the costumes they were wearing. This included Buffy, Xander and Willow, who became a Victorian noblewoman, army sergeant and ghost, respectively. Don’t worry, Giles, Cordelia and Angel found a way to work it all out in the end.
20th Century Fox
“South Park”: “Hell on Earth 2006”
When Satan throws a members-only Halloween party in Los Angeles, Butters summons the ghost of Biggie Smalls. Late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin also shows up. It’s an unforgettable night.
Comedy Central
“Glee”: “Rocky Horror Glee Show”
The McKinley High Glee Club put on a production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” that even Sue Sylvester couldn’t sabotage. Barry Bostwick and Meat Loaf, both in the original 1975 movie musical, also make cameo appearances.
Fox
“Boy Meets World”: “And Then There Was Shawn”
While this episode didn’t air around Halloween, the homage to slasher films is good enough for us to allow it to make the list. Also, that janitor is plenty spooky enough for Halloween.
ABC
“Dawson’s Creek”: “The Scare”
It’s Friday the 13th, and while Dawson is busy playing practical jokes on everyone, a serial killer is headed to Capeside. Let’s just say things get creepy in the episode, which is a spin on Wes Craven’s 1996 “Scream.”
WB
“Roseanne”: “Boo!”
This was the first Halloween-themed episode for the ABC sitcom back in 1989, and kicked off an annual tradition for the series. In this episode, Roseanne and Dan compete to see who is the spookiest and Roseanne tries to get Becky into the Halloween spirit.
ABC
Because you need something to watch after all that trick-or-treating
Since it’s the spookiest time of year, TheWrap has rounded up some of TV’s best Halloween-themed episodes (in no particular order) for your post-trick-or-treating binging.
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