Thanks to Empire we get our first real look at DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK with this international trailer. The film was written by Guillermo del Toro (HELLBOY, PAN’S LABYRINTH) who is no stranger to the horror genre and amazing creature effects. The film is directed by the previously unknown Troy Nixley and stars Guy Pearce (THE PROPOSITION, MEMENTO) and Katie Holmes (BATMAN BEGINS, DAWSON’S CREEK).

It takes a whole lot for a movie to scare me these days and it seems like DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK may actually get to me. When it comes to horror, I am of the mind frame that “less is more”. When I only see hints of the horror my mind takes over and conjures up the scariest things imaginable. Usually when I see what I am suppose to be scared of I am relieved and not as scared anymore. Movie such as THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and THE GRUDGE come to mind when I think of a truly successful scary movie. I hope I can add DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK to that list. Check out the full synopsis and international trailer below.

“Sally Hurst (Bailee Madison), a lonely, withdrawn child, has just arrived in Rhode Island to live with her father Alex (Guy Pearce) and his new girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes) at the 19th-century mansion they are restoring. While exploring the sprawling estate, the young girl discovers a hidden basement, undisturbed since the strange disappearance of the mansion’s builder a century ago. When Sally unwittingly lets loose a race of ancient, dark-dwelling creatures who conspire to drag her down into the mysterious house’s bottomless depths, she must convince Alex and Kim that it’s not a fantasy—before the evil lurking in the dark consumes them all.”

DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK come to the states August 26th 2011.