10 Stories We’d Love to See in “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark”

The film adaptation of Alvin Schwartz’s “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” trilogy hits theaters this week, on Friday, August 9. The highly anticipated movie was written by Dan Hageman and Kevin Hageman ( “Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia,” “Hotel Transylvania”), directed by Andre Ovredal (“Trollhunter,” “The Autopsy of Jane Doe”) and produced by Guillermo del Toro. The trailers indicate that this PG-13 horror movie won’t be short on scares for audiences of all ages.

We already know some of the stories that will be included from each of the three books, based on the various teasers and trailers. We’re definitely going to be seeing “Harold,” about a creepy scarecrow that comes to life; “The Red Spot,” about a spider bite that is so much more; “The Dream,” about a mysterious warning; and “The Big Toe,” about a missing appendage. We’re also likely to see “The Attic,” a more humorous spooky tale, and “The Cat’s Paw,” a shape-shifter story.

There is at least one trailer for the film featuring a character called the “Jangly Man,” which isn’t from a story in any of the children’s books. Will the movie contain new frights, so readers of the books are kept on edge? We can’t wait to see.

However, there are also stories within the series that we’d love to see on the big screen. We’ve narrowed it down to a few per book, and here are our choices:

“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark”

1. “The Viper” is a story that would inject some comic relief into the film. It starts out mysterious and creepy, but ends with a twist that anyone would love.
2. “High Beams” will be familiar to anyone who knows urban legends. The story of the girl in her car and the man following her holds up after all this time.
3. “Room for One More” is from the small screen. A version of this tale was featured on “The Twilight Zone” in 1961, and it takes a turn you may not see coming.

“More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark”

1. “A Ghost in the Mirror” is more of a game than a story. You know the drill: Turn off all of the bathroom lights and repeat a name until Bloody Mary (or whichever ghost) shows up.
2. “The Man in the Middle” takes a page from real-life horror. It’ll leave you wondering if that trio of men on the subway car what they seem.
3. “The Drum” works as a scary story and as a parable. How could a drum possibly teach a powerful yet fearsome lesson?
4. “The Dead Man’s Hand” is another one that uses a more real-life approach to horror, and it also teaches a lesson about bullying.

“Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones”

1. “No Thanks” features an interaction with a creepy man in a parking lot. It has an abrupt and near-humorous ending, but doesn’t lack scares.
2. “Is Something Wrong?” is accompanied by one of the most iconic Stephen Gammell illustrations. It would be another story that could add comic relief.
3. “The Appointment” deals with death and fate, not unlike a “Final Destination” film. It would be an interesting addition to the film.

If you’ve reread the series a million times and you just can’t wait for the movie to be released, you should check out the “Scary Stories” documentary that came out earlier this year.

Which stories are your favorites? Which ones are you excited to see adapted in the new film? Sound off in the comments below, or hit us up on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!