movie addict Review of Afraid of the Dark

Afraid of the Dark (1991)

I think it's about how this child uses fantasy and imagination to help him deal with his fear of impending blindness.

[7/10 · 18 April 2000]

The boy cannot see the external world very well, so he has developed an enhanced internal vision, or imagination (first third of film plus other brief scenes). He is terrified of going blind because blindness makes one vulnerable to all sorts of dangers (hence the title). So he uses his fantasy world to empower himself. I think that's the point of this film. For example, there is no actual person who slashes blind people. This is one of his imagined threats. And he figures out a way to defend himself.