In the world of fantasy and enchantment, a reservoir of magic exists, hidden beneath the surface of reality. This reservoir is a source of incredible power and wonder, serving as a conduit for those who seek to harness its energy and wield it for their own purposes. It is said that those who are attuned to the mystical forces of the universe can tap into this reservoir, drawing upon its magical essence to perform extraordinary feats and cast powerful spells. The reservoir of magic is often depicted as a wellspring of energy, like a deep and infinite pool that flows with the purest form of enchantment. It is believed to be composed of the very fabric of the universe itself, a mystical substance that permeates all things and connects every being in existence. This reservoir is not limited by physical boundaries or mortal constraints, but rather exists in a realm beyond the perceptions of ordinary individuals.
Are you afraid of the dark curse of the shadow
Courtesy of Nickelodeon When I was growing up in the ’90s, I would find myself in front of the TV Saturday nights excited for Nickelodeon to play their SNICK line-up. Sure, I was a fan of the animated series The Ren & Stimpy Show, as well as the live-action sketch comedy show, All That, but what really drew my attention every week was the horror series, ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?. In 2018, fans had the chance to see the series revived for a new generation, and now after a two-year hiatus, it’s back again with a brand-new season. Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society is my review of ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?: CURSE OF THE SHADOWS.
In ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?: CURSE OF THE SHADOWS, an all-new group of Midnight Society kids tell a terrifying tale about a curse that has been cast over their small seaside town, haunted by an all-new villain named the Shadowman.
The premiere episode, titled “The Tale of the Haunted Wood”, takes place in the sleepy, seaside town of Shadow Bay. We are introduced to Connor (Parker Queenan) while he’s in the midst of stealing a mysterious book from the local magic shop. It’s clear that Connor is terrified of…something, and while returning home through the woods, comes face to face with whatever that horror is.
The following morning Luke (Bryce Gheisar) awakes to a slew of missed calls from his best friend, Connor. After trying to get a hold of him, he corrals together the rest of the Midnight Society in hopes that someone will have information on where Connor is located. However, all they are able to piece together is the last location of Connor’s whereabouts: Sardo’s Magic Mansion. It’s there that they meet Mr. Sardo (the name should be familiar to AYAOTD fans) and learn about the Shadowman, an urban legend that just might be more real and dangerous than any of them could imagine.
(L-R) Ryan Beil as Mr. Sardo, Bryce Gheisar as Luke, Beatrice Kitsos as Hannah, and Dominic Mariche as Seth in ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?: CURSE OF THE SHADOWS
One of the reasons this episode was so great is partly due to the chemistry of the cast which makes up the Midnight Society. Each character presents a distinct personality trait, ranging anywhere from Jai’s (Arjun Athalye) class clown to Gabby’s (Malia Baker) determination that makes it easy for viewers to find a character to connect and relate with. But even more so than that, their performances are warm and welcoming, making it easy to believe that they genuinely care for one another. Additionally, the group dynamics work great as all the characters could easily play off one another, especially in the case of Hanna (Beatrice Kitsos) and Seth (Dominic Mariche) who play older sister/younger brother, respectively.
I will admit I was hesitant when I saw that Jeff Wadlow (Fantasy Island, Truth or Dare) was serving as executive producer and the primary director for the series. Both films lacked originality and felt haphazard in their execution, which led me to believe that maybe he wasn’t the best fit to tackle bringing this beloved horror series to life. However, at least in the case of the premiere episode, which he directed, he knocked it out of the park and proved this critic wrong. It felt exciting and original, while also keeping me on my toes for the entire length of the episode.
Like his previous work, the episode has a bright, clean color palette to its look and styling. The town of Shadow Bay feels welcoming and homey in its seaside depiction but modern in its approach to the overall aesthetic. However, that doesn’t mean there’s a lack of spookiness for when, the sun begins to set, the forest around the bay begins to come alive as tendrils of fog drift lazily from the outskirts of the forest, beckoning all to walk by to investigate. But even more important than that is you can see an improvement in the way in which he crafts a scare. It doesn’t feel lazily predictable. Instead, it’s filled with wrought tension. One moment, in particular, takes place with a Clap On/Clap Off, which had me wanting to crawl out of my skin in terror. As an adult, that’s a great feeling to experience but it also reminded me of how much ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? used to terrify me as a kid.
Still of the Shadowman from ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?: CURSE OF THE SHADOWS
I can’t end this review without talking about the Shadowman for that was one of my favorite things about the episode. Wadlow does a great job of only giving us glimpses of the Shadowman, allowing for both the intrigue and the tension to build. Plus, there’s something more sinister about being aware that something exists right outside your peripheral. When we do get to finally see the Shadowman, it almost resembles that of a Wendigo, with large antler-like protrusions coming from its head. The lack of CGI and the efforts put in to make this look as practical as possible resulted in a creature that is sure to send chills down one’s spine. Add in some quality scares of the Shadowman creeping up on its prey and you have another winning combination.
ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?: THE CURSE OF THE SHADOWS is a horror kid’s dream come true and an enjoyable horror romp for adults. That said, fans of the original series should be on the lookout for a certain giggling item from the ’90s version that has a surprise appearance in the first episode. As much as I enjoyed the first season of this new reimagining, I found the second one to be much darker and unsettling, allowing me to be fully engaged and wanting more by the end of the episode. All that being said, I’m excited to see where the series will go with each new episode to come. Episode 1 of ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?: THE CURSE OF THE SHADOWS is now available to stream on Nickelodeon.
I declare this meeting of the Midnight Society closed. Until next time…
The new Are You Afraid of the Dark? gives kids their own American Horror Story
Joshua Rivera (he/him) is an entertainment and culture journalist specializing in film, TV, and video game criticism, the latest stop in a decade-plus career as a critic.
In the early ’90s, Are You Afraid of the Dark? was perhaps television’s cleverest way to scare children in ways they’d never forget. The title was worded like a dare as well as a premise. It felt like it was letting viewers in on a secret — the Midnight Society, where kids gather late at night to tell each other scary stories. Are You Afraid of the Dark? was smart low-budget television that understood how to scare kids but also thrill them, signaling the start of a ’90s kid-focused horror boom that later took off with R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps and Disney Channel’s annual Halloween releases, like Don’t Look Under the Bed and Halloweentown.
Times have changed, and so did the show: In 2019, Are You Afraid of the Dark returned to Nickelodeon more than 20 years after its original run concluded in 1996. (And 19 years after the end of a short-lived 1999 reboot.) The 2019 miniseries was three episodes long and took a page from American Horror Story, telling one continuous narrative that wrapped up by the end of the season. It was pretty neat, a story of a dark carnival (no, not that Dark Carnival, sorry) and missing kids. It didn’t entirely stick the landing, but it was excellent at setting a tone, somewhere halfway between Stranger Things and iCarly.
In the new six-episode season, Curse of the Shadows, the series starts over with a new cast in a new town. Shadow Bay — yes, that’s what it’s called — feels like a direct homage to Stephen King’s fictional Maine town of Castle Rock, a dreary coastal hamlet with plenty of secrets. The story begins with a mystery: Connor Stevens (Parker Queenan), a member of this season’s iteration of the Midnight Society, has gone missing, and Luke McCoy (Bryan Gheisar), this season’s protagonist, gets the gang together to find out what’s wrong. Among the problems: a cursed woods, and a creature called the Shadow Man, which looks kind of like the Wendigo from NBC’s Hannibal.
From the first episode, it all comes together in a sharp, clever way, as a horror mashup that’s pulling from dozens of sources and dropping them into a tween-friendly setting. There’s even an extremely good jump scare. But it’s also an interesting evolution of the central premise of Are You Afraid of the Dark?, continuing a slow drift away from the original that began with the 2019 miniseries, subtitled Carnival of Doom. Unlike the original series (though similar to the ’99 revival) these horror stories are real, and the kids are actually being haunted.
While there’s still a Midnight Society, Curse of the Shadows makes them more of a Scooby gang interested in supernatural happenings, although it’s implied that they still swap stories in normal times, when their friends aren’t missing. It also furthers an idea implied by cast changes in the original show and laid out more explicitly in Carnival of Doom: the Midnight Society isn’t just a tradition passed down from generation to generation, it’s one that can be held in any town, and is possibly in every town.
A good horror story for kids isn’t just about frights, it’s about magic. Part of being a kid is finding the world around you a little boring, and wishing for more. It’s being convinced that wonderful things are happening to other people all the time, and wishing they’d happen to you. Curse of the Shadows leans into this idea. Its cast is at the age where they’re starting to learn how dreary and troubled the world is: Hanna Romero (Beatrice Kitsos) is a zealous climate activist, Gabby Lewis (Malia Baker) has her first lousy part-time job as a waitress at a dockside restaurant, and they all live in a fishing town, so several of their parents have weather-dependent incomes. They’re worried about their missing friend, but they’re also looking for something more to the world around them — it’s no coincidence that their search takes them to a literal magic shop.
Photo: Michael Courtney / Nickelodeon
Not only is the horror real in Curse of the Shadows, it’s implied that the series is set in a world where every other scary story from the original series may have happened as well. There are winks and nods throughout the first episode — and likely more in the ones to come — that suggest a monster from the classic show might show up at any moment. Perhaps they’re just nods to the past, but uniting every past story into a new truth is an extremely Stephen King move, and maybe the best thing about this take on the show.
King famously, sets many of his stories in the same universe — the same fictional towns, like Castle Rock, appear over and over again, and his Dark Tower series of fantasy novels explicitly link a lot of his work in a metafictional ür-story. The majority of the King-iverse isn’t as orchestrated as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, however. It’s more a work of accumulation: small passages and strong ties that accrete over time. It means fictional places can feel like they have a real history, because they do: a history laid out in other stories, spread out over decades.
Are You Afraid of the Dark? Curse of the Shadows has that sense of history, and it’s amplified by the fact that this sort of programming feels like a rarity. Shows for tweens that aren’t quite ready for the CW, but not really into the Disney Channel’s schtick aren’t as prominent as they once were. The Midnight Society, in their search for Connor, are taking viewers along with them, welcoming them into a decades-long tradition where stories were swapped on TV, frightening children with stories of monsters like the Ghastly Grinner, but also suggesting that maybe there’s a little more to the world than there might seem. You can find it, if you’re brave enough when the lights go out.
New episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark? Curse of the Shadows premiere on Nickelodeon on Fridays.
Nickelodeon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark? Returns to the Woods for Curse of the Shadows: Review
Editor’s Note: Nickelodeon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark? returns tonight with the second installment of its revival: Curse of the Shadows. This review/preview is based on the first episode of the new season. Be sure to tune in to Nickelodeon each Friday night starting tonight (February 12th) to watch the rest of the six-part season unfold.
Doddering Disclaimer: Adults my age have a lot of nostalgia tied to Are You Afraid of the Dark?. For most of us, the Saturday night Nickelodeon spooky anthology series was our first water-cooler show. And for all of us who didn’t have parents, older siblings, or cousins who were horror buffs or buffys, those tales were our introduction to the idea that being scared could actually be a lot of fun. Most of us, even as adults, can still name the episode — and we all had one — that stuck with us and kept us reaching for the light switch days, if not weeks, after it first spooked the snot out of us.
Admittedly, the early ’90s were a much different time. The Cold War had ended, Congress could balance a budget (it’s true), and television writers were making a mint coming up with 22-minute (w/commercials) tales that tip-toed that fine line between making us fall asleep with one eye open and waking our parents up all night with our screams. Shows like Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Goosebumps, Eerie, Indiana, and several others took turns creeping out a generation of kids still allowed to walk to school, bike to a friend’s house, and trick-or-treat without wearing a parental tracking device. Basically, they knocked us down a peg with a good scare once in awhile.
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That seemed to change post-9/11, though, and the scary children’s shows mostly dried up. In some ways, that makes a lot of sense. With adult horror anthology shows all but dead at the time, kids didn’t need the training wheels anymore. Many skipped the step altogether and simply graduated to adult horror fare earlier. Fast-forward another 20 years, and today’s kids are staring at a shit show we never thought possible: they’re living on a climatic knife edge, routinely dodging bullets in school, trying to make sense of a reality television presidency, and surviving a plague and public health scare so bad that most children are actually begging to go back to school (again, where the bullets fly). Hell, when we were growing up, supervillains wore the masks. Now, it’s mandated for everyone.
All that said, maybe it’s time that a series like Are You Afraid of the Dark? step out from the shadows to once more teach us that a good scare can be just the thing to distract us from the real perils out there. A lot of these ideas were on my mind back in 2019 when the show returned for a special three-part revival. Rather than rehash all those concerns I had as a longtime fan of the series, I’ll leave them buried in that review to be read or to rot; it’s up to you. This isn’t my Are You Afraid of the Dark? anymore. With the Curse of the Shadows as a likely template for any future seasons, it’s safe to say that it’s a new campfire reimagined for a new generation. In other words, this 37-year-old will write this review knowing full well that Curse of the Shadows wasn’t submitted for his approval at all. There’s a new Midnight Society … and it ain’t us.
Are You Afraid of the Dark? (Nickelodeon)
Submitted for the Approval: Luke (Bryce Gheisar) awakens to find that his best friend and the leader of The Midnight Society, Connor (Parker Queenan), has gone missing the night before. The other three members of The Midnight Society — Gabby (Malia Baker), Hanna (Beatrice Kitsos), and Jai (Arjun Athalye) — set out together with Luke to solve the mystery of their friend’s disappearance. However, the only clue that they stumble upon are some chilling social media pictures and surveillance camera footage of Luke stealing a rare spell book from Sardo’s (“that’s Sar-DO … no Mister … accent on the -DO”) Magic Mansion. In both, the image of a strange, shadowy creature can be seen following Connor. According to Sardo, who technically submits the story “The Tale of the Haunted Woods” to the group, Connor is being stalked by “the shadowman,” part of an old curse that haunts their seaside town of Shadow Bay. Armed with the knowledge of what they’re up against, the group (and Hanna’s annoying kid brother, Seth) begin their mission to save Connor.
AdvertisementOnce Around the Campfire: As mentioned above, the new Midnight Society are Connor, Luke, Gabby, Hanna, and Jai. So, what ever happened to Rachel, Gavin, Akiko, Graham, and Louise from the 2019 reboot? Gone. Forgotten. Kaput. Actually, I think we’re supposed to assume that they’re still telling stories in their MS chapter in Argento, Oregon. That said, while it’s interesting to think that Midnight Societies exist in every town (kinda like Fight Clubs) and each season can presumably focus on a new campfire gang, there is definitely something lost when having to re-establish characters from scratch each time out. It almost seems wasteful. But it also makes sense given the structure that these first two rebooted seasons have assumed. While a group of kids — like the original Midnight Society of the ’90s — can go on telling scary stories week after week, if the Society themselves, and not the characters in their stories, are going to be the main characters in these tales, we can hardly expect them to fall into a brand-new horror story each season let alone each week. After all, how many curses can Shadow Bay possibly have? It looks like it’ll be six episodes and done for this Midnight Society. Don’t get too attached.
Editor's PickTV Review: Nickelodeon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark? Reboot Gains Approval of The Midnight Society
This Is How We Do It Now: A lot has changed since the ’90s. Are You Afraid of the Dark? has officially scrapped its anthology roots in favor of being more like, say, Stranger Things, in that each season, despite having different characters, takes the viewer on one multi-episode adventure. In many ways, it’s following a proven formula like the one used in The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor, respectively. We also can assume going forward that the various Midnight Societies will be the ones finding themselves inside scary tales rather than simply telling them. Both these updates can work if done well, though both take the show far away from its origins. There’s a novelty and excitement to the one-off, hit-and-miss nature of an anthology series, just as a season-long tale can go places the anthology can’t. As for the idea of the Midnight Society being stars of the stories rather than storytellers, that’s a little trickier. It was an interesting twist in Season One, which only had three episodes, but there’s no real way to make the old format work if each season will be one narrative. It almost makes the whole Midnight Society angle moot.
Hey, The ’90s Called: Fans of the original show will enjoy little details like Jai’s favorite comic being The Ghastly Grinner, and it’s inspired to find ourselves not only in Sardo’s magic shop again but also in the harmless huckster’s comical company. While it’s strange to see Gary’s used car salesman in magician’s clothing (presumably outside one of his stories) as the main adult ally of this new Midnight Society, it’s too good a character to leave on the shelf forever. That said, it would have been great to have seen Richard M Dumont reprise the role of Sardo. He was absolutely magical in the part. Likewise, it’s a shame that Aron Tager, who died in 2019, never got to play kooky (kinda evil) Dr. Vink (“with a Va-Va-Va!”) one final time. Still, Ryan Beil’s own take on the frantic, easily annoyed Sardo suffices here. He might even save the series (literally and figuratively).
AdvertisementAre You Afraid of the Dark? (Nickelodeon)
Verdict: There’s a lot going for Season 2, aka Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows. The production value and acting are far better than anything we’ve seen before, and the return of Sardo, if written and performed well, should balance out the screams with some chortles. Pacing may be a bit of an issue, though. One episode into Season 2 and we more or less already know what has happened (or do we?) and what the latest Midnight Society is up against (the shadowman has been revealed several times already). It does make us wonder where both the scares and surprises will come from going forward. The good news is they have five episodes left to figure out how to do that.
Where Can I See It? The chills begin tonight — Friday February 12th — at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.
Trailer:
This reservoir is not limited by physical boundaries or mortal constraints, but rather exists in a realm beyond the perceptions of ordinary individuals. Those who possess the ability to access the reservoir of magic are often referred to as wizards, sorcerers, or magicians. These individuals are born with a natural affinity for the mystic arts, allowing them to tap into the reservoir and channel its power at will.
Through focused concentration, incantations, and rituals, they are able to manipulate the energy of the reservoir to create magical effects, such as telekinesis, elemental manipulation, and even the ability to heal wounds. The reservoir of magic is not static or unchanging, but rather in a constant state of flux. It ebbs and flows with the rhythms of the universe, responding to the will and intent of those who seek to wield its power. However, it is not without its risks and dangers. Uncontrolled or reckless use of the reservoir can have disastrous consequences, resulting in unintended consequences, corruption, and the unleashing of destructive forces. Legend tells of ancient guardians who watch over the reservoir of magic, ensuring that its power is not misused or abused. These guardians, known as the Keepers of the Well, are charged with safeguarding the delicate balance of the magical realm and preventing its energy from falling into the wrong hands. They are said to possess immense knowledge and wisdom, passed down through generations, and possess the ability to commune with the mystical forces of the universe. In tales and stories, the reservoir of magic often serves as a symbol for the untapped potential within each person. It represents the hidden depths of creativity, imagination, and limitless possibilities that lie within the human spirit. It encourages individuals to embrace their inner magic and to explore the wonder and enchantment of the world around them. The reservoir of magic is a timeless concept that continues to captivate audiences and inspire the imaginations of people across all cultures. It represents a connection to something greater than ourselves, inviting us to unlock the limitless potential that lies within each of us. Whether real or imagined, the reservoir of magic serves as a reminder that the power to create and shape our own destinies lies within our grasp..
Reviews for "The Reservoir of Magic: A Source of Transformation and Growth"
1. Karen - ★☆☆☆☆
I found "Reservoir of Magic" to be extremely disappointing. The plot was weak and predictable, and the characters lacked depth. The writing style was also very plain and unengaging. I was expecting a thrilling and captivating read based on the positive reviews, but I couldn't connect with the story at all.
2. Michael - ★★☆☆☆
I had high hopes for "Reservoir of Magic," but it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was choppy, with moments of intense action followed by long periods of dull exposition. The world-building was also lackluster, leaving many unanswered questions. Overall, I found the book to be mediocre and forgettable.
3. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
I struggled to get through "Reservoir of Magic." The characters were unlikable and lacked any redeeming qualities. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to invest in their stories. Additionally, the plot was convoluted and confusing, leaving me more frustrated than entertained. I wouldn't recommend this book to others.
4. David - ★☆☆☆☆
"Reservoir of Magic" was a complete disappointment. The writing was cliché and lacked originality, with predictable plot twists and uninteresting descriptions. The book failed to hold my attention, and I found myself skimming through paragraphs just to reach the end. Overall, it was a waste of time and money.