Although sometimes held back by its PG-13 rating, Scary Stories delivers.
The Upside:
Where Scary Stories really excels is in the actual short stories it tells on screen, each individual story is constructed with great atmosphere, creepy visuals, and some great scares, especially for a PG-13 rated horror film. Guillermo Del Toros style is on full display with the character design, and the young actors that lead the film all do a respectable job,
The Downside:
Because it is based on an anthology series, the source material does not have anything connecting the stories. To connect them, Scary Stories creates a very shallow and flimsy storyline, which in all honesty is not very good, or original. There are also a few great moments in the film that feel very restricted by the PG-13 rating, and aren’t able to reach their full horror potential (ex. The Pale Lady).
The Verdict:
Scary Stories truly shines while adapting the short stories of its source material, and ends up being a creepy and enjoyable watch, even with a bland overlying story.
7/10
The High Point: The short stories
The Low Point: The Pale Lady climax
FlickFix 