Don’t Look in the Dark (2025)
Story overview
Don't Look in the Dark is a 2025 horror film directed by Sam Freeman, presented as found footage from a couple's camping trip in Pinelands National Reserve on April 4, 2022. The movie uses fragmented audio and video recordings from their phones, with intentional blackouts preserved, to create a suspenseful and mysterious atmosphere as viewers piece together what happened during their unsettling experience.
Parent Guide
A psychological horror film presented as found footage with tension built through implication, darkness, and audio cues rather than explicit content. Suitable for mature teens who can handle suspense and ambiguous threats.
Content breakdown
No graphic violence shown. Peril comes from implied threats in darkness, characters in distress heard on audio, and tense situations suggesting danger. Some intense moments of characters running or hiding.
Frequent jump scares, prolonged darkness with unsettling sounds, psychological tension from not knowing what's happening. The found-footage style adds realism that may increase fear factor. Unexplained events and ambiguous threats create sustained unease.
May include occasional mild profanity in moments of fear or distress (words like 'hell' or 'damn'), but no strong or frequent swearing based on typical horror film patterns.
No sexual content or nudity apparent from the description. Focus is on the horror elements of the camping trip.
No depiction or mention of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco use based on the provided information.
High tension and suspense throughout, with characters in constant peril. The fragmented nature of the footage creates anxiety and confusion. Fear of the unknown and isolation in wilderness setting contributes to emotional intensity.
Parent tips
This film uses found-footage style with jump scares, darkness, and unexplained events that may frighten younger viewers. The fragmented presentation and implied threats rather than explicit violence make it more psychologically tense than gory. Parents should consider their child's sensitivity to suspense, sudden loud noises, and the anxiety of not knowing what's happening in the dark.
Parent chat guide
Parent follow-up questions
- Did the dark parts in the movie make you feel scared?
- What sounds did you hear that were spooky?
- What would make you feel safe if you were camping?
- Why do you think the phones kept recording even when things got scary?
- What do you think might have been in the woods that we didn't see?
- How can we tell the difference between movie scares and real danger?
- How did the found-footage style affect your experience of the story?
- What techniques did the filmmakers use to build tension without showing much?
- What safety precautions should people take when camping in remote areas?
- How does the limitation of phone footage affect narrative reliability?
- What commentary might the film be making about technology and surveillance?
- How does psychological horror differ from graphic horror in its impact on viewers?
Where to watch
Streaming availability has not been announced yet.
Trailer
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