A loving tribute to a horrifying trio of books
Like so many people who grew up as children of the 90s, I have such strong memories of the Scary Stories books. The three part book series full of tales steeped in the macabre, darkly humorous and downright terrifying, accompanied by those haunting illustrations, helped usher in a generation of readers as they imprinted themselves into the souls of all who read them. I can vividly recall reading them late at night in my bed too terrified to stop and turn out the light for fear that what I was reading would come to life. At the same time, I couldn’t pull myself from the chilling tales author Alvin Schwartz had so brilliantly put to paper and the Stephen Gammell illustrations which added extra layers of chills. In preparing to watch the newly-released documentary Scary Stories, I must admit that despite trying, I can’t remember when I first encountered the series. What I can say for certain however, is that the books have never left my psyche.
With Scary Stories, documentarian Cody Meirick looks to explore the origins of the iconic book series, covering any and all territory including a look into Schwartz life and the inspirations behind his most famous works. Also explored is the newsmaking controversy the books caused, as well as a look at how the stories themselves influenced a generation. Meirick incorporates commentary from children’s horror authors such as R.L. Stine, Bruce Coville, one of the series’ most vocal challengers and Schwartz’s own family in order to tell the tale of Scary Stories.
Like with most author-centric documentaries, Scary Stories takes a good amount of time examining the life of the man who conjured up these tales of fright. They always say the scarier the writings, the sweeter the man who wrote them. That definitely feels true when it comes to looking at the kind of individual Schwartz was; namely a good-natured family man who loved his wife and children as much as his work. Comments from son Peter and wife Barbara confirm this, as well as how the ensuing controversy surrounding his work made him laugh with delight. There’s a bit of melancholy in hearing the younger Schwartz talk about the somewhat strained relationship he shared with his father near the end of his life before eventually turning sweet when hearing present-day comments about Peter’s love for his famous dad. Scary Stories does a credible job of getting inside Schwartz’s character in ways which extend beyond family to include his time serving in the Navy as well as a brief stint in journalism, before finding what would ultimately be his calling in the world of children’s literature. Throughout it all, Meirick crafts a portrait of a deeply introspective and well-read man whose influence would make an impact far greater than even he could realize.
Schwartz’s writings remain as scary today as they did when they were first published. While it was the fear of the unknown which gave the stories such a terrifying edge when reading them as children, the doc alludes to the notion that, as adults, it’s the fear of what may be possible which continues to give the books such potency. Scary Stories delves into the various meanings behind the different tales, all of which were carefully researched and constructed. The author is given credit for the way he intricately weaved tales which transcended culture and era, but contained a hypnotic feel which made them both modern and timeless. Certain stories dealing in off-putting figures, the afterlife and the downright unexplainable were rooted in ancient folklore from a variety of cultures, which Schwartz felt contained an underrated value. The author brilliantly showed the universality of an assortment of ancient fables through themes of immigration, mortality, the complexity of one’s own body, among many others. Through a decidedly Americanized reworking of such tales, Scary Stories points out how Schwartz was doing his part in preserving what he felt were a collection of stories worth remembering, while at the same time preparing young readers for adulthood with a unique insight into the outside world.
Scary Stories wouldn’t have the credibility it does as a documentary if it didn’t make a thorough examination of the controversy which accompanied Schwartz and his series. Because of its terrifying content and even more terrifying illustrations, the books found themselves challenged left and right, particularly in the early 90s. Librarians fought to keep them on shelves as parents claimed their children were being traumatized by what they were reading. Meirick makes a concerted effort to explore the uproar caused by Schwartz’s tales, as well as the issue of banned books in general. This is perhaps the wisest move on behalf of the filmmaker, who not only interviews one of the series strongest opponents, but has her actually sit down with Schwartz’s son for an honest, reflective discussion about the books themselves. This aspect goes a long way towards ensuring that Scary Stories thoroughly explores all sides of Schwartz’s work and their effect on society. As the son of a librarian, I’m no stranger to the notion of banned books and the emotions stirred up from them, both good and bad. While it isn’t the point of the film, Scary Stories recognizes this as well, presenting both sides of concerned adults and their reasoning, never vilifying nor praising either side.
At its core, Scary Stories is a well-chronicled tribute to one of the most iconic book series in all of children’s literature and the figure who brought them to life. From art installations, to photographic recreations, to the Guillermo Del Toro-produced feature film due out later this year, the impact of the stories remains undeniable. On a practical level, the documentary takes great care to acknowledge the inspiration it gave to legions of children when it came to the value and importance of reading. Yet on a greater scale, the film shows how Schwartz and his books taught his readers that the real terror is all around us in the horrors of life itself, some of which we ourselves are responsible for conjuring up. Controversy and chills aside, Schwartz’s greatest achievement with his series was the ability to help us confront those fears with a special kind of strength that helped to make so many of us who we are today.