A scary 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark'

The premise of the 1973 made-for-TV horror flick "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" might sound like comedy: A young housewife (Kim Darby, a long way from "True Grit") moves into a Gothic mansion and is terrorized by gremlins in her heating system. Laugh away, but this B-grade cheapie -- the dinky demons were obviously actors standing on oversized sets -- remains a cult favorite, admired for its tingly atmosphere, effective pacing and a zinger of an ending.

One of those admirers is Guillermo del Toro ("Pan's Labyrinth"), who has produced a better-looking but spiritually faithful remake. This time the heroine is a little girl, Sally Hurst (Bailee Madison, very appealing), who has moved to a Rhode Island mansion with her divorced father, Alex (Guy Pearce), and his new girlfriend, Kim (a sympathetic Katie Holmes). But as in the original, the miniature monsters are not to be underestimated.

Lonely and imaginative, Sally is a typical del Toro heroine, and much of the film's prolonged sense of dread comes from watching her innocently walk into danger. Initially, she mistakes the gremlins for delightful imps, possibly even tooth fairies who leave coins in her bed. (And boy, do they want those teeth.) It takes a while before Sally realizes that any creature who hisses when exposed to light is probably not to be trusted.

First-time director Troy Nixey mimics del Toro's baroque visual style, but he also knows how to prolong suspense and build up dread. (The film owes something to "The Shining," another rare R-rated horror movie featuring a child star.) Overall, "Don't be Afraid of the Dark" works nicely as an old-fashioned Gothic chiller, filled with rustling bedsheets and the scritch-scritch of little claws. As for that zinger ending -- well, no spoilers here.

PLOT A little girl moves into a mansion and discovers some new "friends." RATED R (violence, terror)

CAST Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, Bailee Madison

LENGTH 1:40

PLAYING AT Area theaters

BOTTOM LINE Haunted house + terrorized child = good, shuddery fun.