History YMMV / DontBeAfraidOfTheDark

* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: Marco Beltrami's score for this film can bring in mind Music/GraemeRevell's score to ''Film/ChildsPlay2'' (appropriate considering both horror films features a child protagonist in center stage trying to combat the supernatural antagonists plaguing his/her life and trying to target him/her, while most of the AdultsAreUseless). Beltrami's work on this film and other horror movie scores he has done can also be viewed as a new age SpiritualSuccessor to the underrated orchestral 80s horror film scores of fellow film composer Richard Einhorn for such works as the SlasherMovie ''Film/EyesOfAStranger'', ''Film/DontGoInTheHouse'', ''Dead of Winter'' and ''Sister, Sister''.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: Marco Beltrami's score for this film can bring in mind Music/GraemeRevell's score to ''Film/ChildsPlay2'' (appropriate considering both horror films features a child protagonist in center stage trying to combat the supernatural antagonists plaguing his/her life and trying to target him/her, while most of the AdultsAreUseless). Beltrami's work on this film and other horror movie scores he has done can also be viewed as a new age SpiritualSuccessor to the underrated orchestral 80s horror film scores of fellow film composer Richard Einhorn for such works as the SlasherMovie ''Film/EyesOfAStranger'', ''Dead of Winter'' and ''Sister, Sister''.

** A minor one, but during the bathroom attack, the [[spoiler: Blackwood homunculi]] exits the grate and puts its arm around a smaller one of the creatures. [spoiler: Given the information we learn, the second is most likely Blackwood's son who was also transformed, showing his father's affection did not die with their transformation.]]

* During the party, Sally catches one of the homunculi(most likely Blackwood)on camera. While Sally waits for the photo to develop, she keeps snatching the photo away from the adults trying to see what the photo is of and even sits on it to hide it, with one of the homunculi crawling under the table. Eventually, the homounculus begins a tug of war with her with the napkin on her lap(this is unseen by the adults as her father is doing his speech, and just appears as if Sally is fidgeting).Eventually, Sally just gives up and lets the homunculus just HAVE the napkin before trying to spot where it is under the table. The creature quickly jumps up and snatches the photo from beneath her butt and scurries off, quickly ripping its image out of the photo, with Sally giving chase. Despite the fact that it's clearly trying to keep its races existence secret, it's sort of hilarious that this ancient, evil creature is camera shy and goes to such lengths to get the photo from a child.
* SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments:
** Kim, despite being unwanted by Sally initially, continually attempts to make a connection with her and befriend her.
** This starts with her gifting Sally with a teddy bear when she comes to the airport and talking to her about her job and being supportive of her work.
** Kim, unlike Alex, instantly believes Sally when her clothes are torn up by the homunculi, seeing that she's afraid and not angry at Kim(as Alex believes).
** When [[spoiler: Mr. Harris is attacked]] by the homunculi, Kim approaches Sally and first comforts her and states that he'll be okay, but also shows her the garden, talking about the imported koi fish and how they need to be tough because of their bright colours making them ideal for predators, the speech being made to tell Sally she can be tough too. When Sally tearfully swears she didn't ruin her clothes, Kim immediately waves it off, not caring about them and gives her a hug.
** Kim comes in and tucks Sally in. When Sally asks her not to leave and not turn off the lights, Kim accepts and sleeps in the bed with her, even kissing her forehead when she finally does leave after Sally is sound asleep.
** When Kim goes to visit [[spoiler: Mr Harris when he's recovering after the homunculi's attack]], she sees a drawing that Sally drew of him working with wishes for him to get well soon. Even though the man was a bit tough on her(with [[SecretKeeper good reason]]), Sally clearly likes the caretaker enough to send him a card.
** A minor one, but during the bathroom attack, the [[spoiler: Blackwood homunculi]]exits the grate and puts its arm around a smaller one of the creatures. [spoiler: Given the information we learn, the second is most likely Blackwood's son who was also transformed, showing his fathers affection did not die with their transformation.]]
** Later before the party, Sally lets Kim do her hair, with Kim letting her borrow her bird pin(an heirloom of Kim's own parents) and smiles after when Kim promises to get her out after the party, no matter what. When Kim finds Alex's straight razor, which Sally was using to protect herself, she immediately takes it away, but instead gives Sally her Instamatic,[[spoiler:as it allows her to fend off the homunculi with the flash.]]
** When Kim finds [[spoiler: the pictures drawn by Blackwood that almost match Sally's drawing of the homunculi, she immediately begins packing Sally's things, not willing to risk her safety, even though Alex thinks it's just Sally's imagination. She refuses to wait until the party is over either, she's already packed and ready when the homunculi try to attack Sally in the library.]]
** [[FantasyForbiddingFather Alex]], while not fully believing everything Sally has said, [[spoiler: eventually decides to do whats best for her and get her out of the house and get the three of them(himself, Kim and Sally)into a hotel.]]
** After Kim is [[spoiler: taken by the homunculi and Sally returns to the house with Alex,]] not only does she leave a [[DueToTheDead picture of the pair together by the tree outside]]. She also has her hair done up the same way [[spoiler: Kim did for her at the party, showing she had made a change in the little girls life.]]

* BrokenBase: Whether the movie is scary or not. Detractors say that the homunculi aren't frightening (see {{Narm}} below), that the tooth fairy lore added to them was unnecessary, and that the movie goes too long with periods of nothing happening in an effort to build tension. Supporters say that the horror comes from the AdultFear angle, that the unseen world the homunculi come from and want to drag Sally to is the scary thing as opposed to the homunculi themselves, and that the "boring" periods are effective at providing a tense, creepy atmosphere.

** Later before the party, Sally lets Kim do her hair, with Kim letting her borrow her bird pin(an heirloom of Kim's own parents) and smiles after when Kim promises to get her out after the party, no matter what. When Kim finds Alex's straight razor, which Sally was using to protect herself, she immediately takes it away, but instead gives Sally her Instamatic,[[spoiler:as it allows her to fend off the homunculi.]]
** When Kim finds [[spoiler: the pictures drawn by Blackwood that almost match Sally's drawing of the homunculi, she immediately begins packing Sally's things, not willing to risk her safety, even though Alex thinks it's just Sally's imagination.

** When Kim goes to visit [[spoiler: Mr Harris when he's recovering after the homunculi's attack]], she sees a drawing that Sally drew of him working with wishes for him to get well soon. Even though the man was a bit tough on her(with good reason), Sally clearly didn't hold any grudges.

* During the party, Sally catches one of the homunculi(most likely Blackwood)on camera. While she waits for the photo to develop, she keeps snatching the photo away from the adults trying to see it and even sits on it. Eventually, the homounculus comes up beside her chairs and starts fighting with her to get it during her fathers speech, with no one noticing. Eventually, one of the homunculi distracts Sally while the other gets under her and runs off with the photo, with her chasing after it trying to get the photo back. It's hilarious to think of these ancient and evil creatures being camera shy.

** Later before the party, Sally lets Kim do her hair and smiles after. When Kim finds Alex's straight razor, which Sally was using to protect herself, she immediately takes it away, but instead gives Sally her Instamatic,[[spoiler:as it allows her to fend off the homunculi.]]

** After Kim is [[spoiler: taken by the homunculi and Sally returns to the house with Alex,]] not only does she leave a [[DueToTheDead picture of the pair together]], but she also has her hair done up the same way [[spoiler: Kim did, showing she had made a change in the little girls life. [[spoiler:Unfortunately for Kim, it was WrongGenreSavvy...]]

* Kim, despite being unwanted by Sally initially, continually attempts to make a connection with her and befriend her.

* When Kim goes to visit [[spoiler: Mr Harris when he's recovering after the homunculi's attack]], she sees a drawing that Sally drew of him working with wishes for him to get well soon. Even though the man was a bit tough on her(with good reason), Sally clearly didn't hold any grudges.

* {{Heartwarming:}}

* Heartwarming:

* HeartwarmingMoments:

* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: Marco Beltrami's score for this film can also bring in mind Music/GraemeRevell's score to ''Film/ChildsPlay2'' (appropriate considering both horror films features a child protagonist in center stage trying to combat the supernatural antagonists plaguing his/her life and trying to target him/her, while most of the AdultsAreUseless). Beltrami's work on this film and other horror movie scores he has done can also be viewed as a new age SpiritualSuccessor to the underrated orchestral 80s horror film scores of fellow film composer Richard Einhorn for such works as the SlasherMovie ''Film/EyesOfAStranger'', ''Dead of Winter'' and ''Sister, Sister''.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: Marco Beltrami's score for this film can also bring in mind Music/GraemeRevell's score to ''Film/ChildsPlay2'' (appropriate considering both horror films features a child protagonist in center stage trying to combat the supernatural antagonist plaguing her life and trying to target her, while most of the AdultsAreUseless). Beltrami's work on this film and other horror movie scores he has done can also be viewed as a new age SpiritualSuccessor to the underrated orchestral 80s horror film scores of fellow film composer Richard Einhorn for such works as the SlasherMovie ''Film/EyesOfAStranger'', ''Dead of Winter'' and ''Sister, Sister''.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: Marco Beltrami's score for this film can also bring in mind Music/GraemeRevell's score to ''Film/ChildsPlay2''. Beltrami's work on this film and other horror movie scores he has done can also be viewed as a new age SpiritualSuccessor to the underrated orchestral 80s horror film scores of fellow film composer Richard Einhorn for such works as the SlasherMovie ''Film/EyesOfAStranger'', ''Dead of Winter'' and ''Sister, Sister''.