Hard to tell who stories are supposed to scare...

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (15) ●●

The creepy trailers for this big screen take on Alvin Schwartz’s collection of short horror stories for kids promised much.

Throw in direction by The Autopsy of Jane Doe and Troll Hunter’s André Øvredal and production – and screenplay contribution – from Guillermo del Toro and I was pretty psyched up for fulsome frights.

However, because of the family- friendly limitations of the source material, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark can’t decide who its target audience is – and is a remarkably underwhelming watch.

The tales – focused on a group of teens facing their fears in order to save their lives – aren’t so much stories as a series of incidents. Since the launch of the superb Stranger Things it’s become a trend for films to feature groups of kids or teens cursing, scampering around on bikes and communicating via walkietalkies.

Those tropes are all present here, which wouldn’t be too bad if more of the young cast knocked it out of the park; only Zoe Margaret Colletti (Stella) really shines.

The adult cast are passive and add very little and the scariest thing we’re hit with in the first third are creaky doors.

Things do pick up, though, and the best thing about the movie is its array of well- rendered creatures.

Del Toro’s renowned skill with practical effects – and Øvredal’s work on Troll Hunter – is written all over sinister scarecrows and the bizarre Pale Lady.

There’s a chilling audio recording too but the tonal shifts – going from egging cars and lame Halloween costumes to headsnaps and dodging the Vietnam War – are jarring.

It’s not scary enough for adults and the 15 rating keeps many youngsters at bay.

For effective family frights stick with Goosebumps or The Monster Squad; and if Halloween- set anthologies are more your thing, check out Trick ‘r Treat.

Don’t turn around Austin Zajur (Chuck) is being followed