Though the show experienced a great run and even had a revival back in 2019 that’s still running, the original AreYou Afraid of the Dark? had several monsters and villains that stood out and still give viewers the creeps to this very day.
7 The Dark Lady
In the tale of the super specs, teenager Marybeth discovers a pair of specs that gets magic dust sprinkled all over them, allowing her to get a peek into another dimension. What starts as an exciting prospect turns into an extremely creepy ordeal as Marybeth begins getting stalked by figures dressed entirely in black.
The tale eventually crescendos into cosmic proportions as the dark lady and her minions turn out to be beings from another cosmic universe that desire to come into the human one. The form that the lady takes is simple albeit terrifying as the creatures from another realm trap Marybeth and some others in a crystal ball. This episode is creepy as it touches upon Lovecraftian terrors and urban myths such as the ‘Men in Black’ and black-eyed children, strange cryptids and beings that show up and stalk their victims.
6 The Frozen Ghost
Sometimes a simple premise and idea can go a long way. Although not menacing or monstrous, the frozen ghost demonstrates that the right atmosphere is everything a horror story needs. Young children as ghosts can sometimes be super spooky and that’s exactly what the frozen ghost nails, with the frequent iteration of “I’m Cold” being enough to send chills down one’s spine.
Though the story displays a heartwarming ending (the ghost kid just needed something warm! And the protagonist stumbles on some money), the story throughout is still an unsettling one.
5 The Blank-Faced Aliens
Something is unsettling about creatures without a face. No doubt, that’s what made Slender Man such a cult hit when he first made his rounds. In the tale of the 13th floor, Karin and Billy get some new neighbors that move in upstairs and introduce themselves as proprietors of a toy company. Of course, these aliens want these kids to come and check out their wares (a major red flag).
The entire episode has a surreal premise from the strange static TV messages to sets that look completely bonkers. What becomes terrifying is that the new neighbors reveal themselves as aliens that have no facial features at all, something that terrifies the kids (and audience) in the process. Although nothing really bad happens, the ending with Karin looking exactly like one of the aliens is enough to make audiences sleep with their tin foil hats on.
4 Zeebo The Clown
Though the show does have several episodes depicting clowns, none can top Zeebo. The episode - the tale of laughing in the dark scores major points for really dialing things back. Zeebo never physically stalks or chases his victims but instead manifests his presence using smoke, phone calls, and other nonconfrontational methods to seriously creep out viewers.
Josh is the kid that doesn’t get the last laugh. After being dared to take Zeebo’s nose, the kid soon begins to regret his decision as Zeebo terrifies the guy night and day by playing on ambiguity. One should always remember to never take someone’s nose, even if it belongs to an animate object.
3 Nosferatu
Paying homage to the classic horror film of the silent movie era, the tale of the Midnight Madness also featured a recurring villain - Dr. Vink, a mad scientist that would take on different appearances throughout the series. When the Rialto, an old-fashioned movie theater is about to be closed down, Dr. Vink feels like he’s got a little trick to play as he feels he’s getting the shorter end of the stick (he was initially a movie director too).
This little present left behind is none other than a classic vampire in similar form to the original Nosferatu. Although generations have passed, something about the original way vampires looked still sends a ripple of fear down the spine from the vampire’s sunken eyes and its horrifying long nails (not to mention the freaky teeth).
2 The Corpse
This one was one for the books when it came to the most terrifying. Featured in the tale of deadman’s float episode, this creature haunts the local school pool, drowning unsuspecting souls that are just taking a dip. The episode has a great buildup and payoff as a bunch of kids do their best to shake off and destroy the ghoul haunting the school pool.
Everything about the corpse’s design is unsettling, from its supposed horrible stench to the bloodied hair that’s covering its skull. This monster made kids look twice at the bottom of the pool before jumping in.
1 The Evil Demon
Serving as the main antagonist of the 3-part mini-series the tale of the silver sight, the Evil demon may not initially scare everyone, but it definitely should. This guy is a creature of pure evil and malevolence, a creature beyond time and space that wished for nothing more than to scare its victims to death and collect their souls. The demon was also able to shift its form, using disguises including that of a young Victorian kid to lull victims into a false sense of security.
Everything about the evil demon is terrifying as it draws parallels to other popular devious demons such as Lovecraft’s Nyarlathotep, a monster of a thousand forms and manifestations, to Stephen King’s Randall Flag or Gaunter O’Dimm from the Witcherfranchise. Nobody wishes to draw their attention to such a creature and to think that an insane and insidious entity could exist out there, collecting souls is a terrifying thought.
More: Best Horror Movies For Kids
