Are You Afraid of the Dark? (TV Series) The Tale of the Dream Girl (1994) User Reviews

"True Love"

[antipas2000 · 9/10 · 6 June 2007]

From the opening, this is one of Samantha's stories. "I've got a story about something incredibly horrifying. But it's not monsters or demons, or any of the usual scary stuff," she says while she walks around the campfire to her seat. "It's about something that can strike any one of us at any time, and it's always when you least expect it". "What is it?" Gary asks "True love," answers Samantha. Of course, no one believes her. But what really got me intrigued was what she said next to their smirks. "Come on. Who says love isn't scary? It can really hurt sometimes. But love is what people live for. And in my story...it's sort of what they die for".

The Tale Of The Dream Girl: revolves around Johnny and Erica who are really close as brother and sister. And it all revolves around a ring that Johnny finds in his locker. Upon putting it on his finger, he cannot remove it and a mysterious girl begins to appear to him and her voice calls out to him. But even Johnny cannot work it out, until a little investigative work points them towards a graveyard where a shocking truth is revealed.

I loved this story just for the way it was written and how well the young actors at the time, played their parts. The ending (I won't ruin it for those who have not seen it) was both tragic and happy. Honestly, it brought a tear to my eye. This episode includes some very nice tunes as well which I love.

Enjoy "The Tale of the Dream Girl" for it is a great story.

Sixth Sense

[Carly_fan · 10/10 · 7 June 2007]

A little known fact is that this episode inspired M. Night Shylaman to write The Sixth Sense. He was so moved by the story that he decided to add more to the story, but retained the idea of the main character not actually being aware of his situation. What I really liked about this episode is that it makes us question our perception of reality, and how things can change so quickly. True, it's not the first time it's been done, and most recently, the movie "The Invisible" (2007) followed the same story line. What I liked most about the episode is that it shows how closely love binds people together, and not even death - or life - can keep people who care about each other apart.

Wow.

[michaelgarykelley1994 · 10/10 · 13 April 2019]

At this time, it seems like no one has written a review for this absolutely amazing episode, so I thought I'd contribute to it.

This episode isn't scary, and it's not really meant to be, even though we're used to everything on this show being more eerie than anything. This episode could legitimately surprise you, and make you cry. It was extremely touching, and had some of the best music I've heard on the show, so far. I'm very, very impressed, man. Definitely give this one a shot.

"I don't think I can stay..."

[Foreverisacastironmess123 · 9/10 · 7 May 2015]

I really like this one a lot because unlike the vast majority of episodes in this series, not that there's anything at all wrong with that particular approach, it isn't played over the top, there are no monsters or goofy zoom-in shots where people are screaming directly at the camera or anything like that, it's not intended as a 'scary' kind of story perse, it's more of a compelling and bittersweet tale of a love that carried on after death... It's very lighthearted and sombre and definitely feels like an episode that has a little more going on beneath the surface. It's a little more deep and involving on an emotional level than what they usually tended to go with. I'd say it's the tale that has the most heart, and it's also quite heartbreaking too! It also has a good repeatability factor because you can notice all the little things that you may have never thought to the first time around in regards to Johnny being dead, and get the real meanings behind some of the stuff people say and why they seemingly flat-out ignore him, and that's a part of the story that I found kind of sad and poignant, no one likes the thought of being ignored and forgotten about. It's so cool how this humble little yarn is the secret origin of the famous horror movie "The Sixth Sense", only halfway-decent effort its director ever made and also a picture that I never cared for in the slightest. I think this is better than Sixth Sense in that it does the same foreshadowing buildup and resolve and it does it all in less than 30 minutes, I think it handles the emotions better. It's like they took everything that they tried out with the earlier "Tale of the Prom Queen" and used it to better emotional payoff in this story. Fab(! oh, what the f-)Filippo gives a good performance, you feel his sadness at why people are coldly ignoring him, as well as his confusion about the eerie and mysterious girl that has begun to haunt him, but as it turns out, all she's really trying to do is to help him remember... You can really get how it's like he's living with something that's missing from his life, which he is - himself. You could be forgiven for mistaking this episode as boring, as there's not really all that much action-wise that goes on in the plot, but it's all done in such a way that it's all a big buildup to the twist at the end, and if you watch the ending without being moved at all, then in my opinion it's not for you or you've missed the point. It's a beautiful and excellently done ending, perhaps even Are You Afraid of the Dark's very own Magnum Opus! It's made me teary-eyed before, as I'm a big sucker for sad goodbyes. Wonderful episode, such a classic of this show. So long folks!

One of the greatest episodes of the series!

[tromafreakmicheal · 10/10 · 18 July 2020]

In a series with so many truly unforgettable episodes this is one that sticks out. It's both tragic and sweet. By the end you're in tears because you're conflicted with both feelings of sadness and happiness for the characters. When a show has managed to make you care so much that's when you know it's a winner!

Forever Love

[hellraiser7 · 10/10 · 10 January 2016]

Warning do not read unless you've seen the episode.

This is my favorite tale of the show and it's also one of the most emotionally moving. This episode in a way sort of reminded me of the movie "Angel Heart" as it had a twist that you wouldn't of seen a mile away, there were clues but they were the kind that were easy to overlook and you never gave a second thought about until the final discovery. The story by it's nature is actually pretty simple it just doesn't seem that way; it's really interesting as you re watch it as you can view it in different perspectives from two of the leads.

I really like the Johnny character, he's a character you really feel sympathetic toward. Just like him there are these things that are happening all having to do with this girl Donna that constantly appears to him, and were trying to make sense out of it all; why is this happening and why did the girl choose him?

The back and forth between Donna and Johnny is decent. But to me what really makes this episode and I personally feel is the true love story is the back and forth between both Erica and Johnny which I thought was great I bought the brother and sister chemistry between them. Of course the actress that plays Erica is Andrea Nemeth whom I remember as Medea from one of my favorite TV shows "The Odyssey", she was great in this episode. I really like that she got a sort of spunk and energy to her, is always supportive to Johnny. But I also like as you see the episode again the first time you watch the episode at first it seems like she's in the dark just as much as Johnny and like any supportive sister does helps him out. However looking at a scene or two again you can tell from her eyes and facial movements she knows more than she's letting on, and there is a reason for it.

It then of course comes down to the fateful moment which to me was both a chilling and sad twist. We see that Johnny actually died a long time ago and Donna was his girlfriend whom was trying to help him remember. This not just made Johnny more sympathetic but it really made me feel heavy pathos for Erica as you realize what she's been though. We see that Erica has psychic powers and that is why she is the only one that can see Johnny, she didn't want Johnny to discover the truth because it would mean he would be gone forever from her life.

But in the end Erica had to let him go because he didn't belong in our realm anymore and he needed to reunite with his true love. But before he leaves it then comes down to a really touching and beautiful moment when he gives Erica the ring he gave Donna. Just as that ring was a symbol of his love for Donna, its a symbol of his love for his sister. It's a way to show Erica that Johnny will always be with her.

In the words of Sara Weber from "The Crow". "If the people we love are gone, to have them live on is to keep loving them, buildings burn, people die but real love is forever."

Rating: 4 stars

Brilliant and Memorable Episode

[hadzzz7 · 10/10 · 1 January 2024]

Brilliant episode!

I thought the acting was phenomenal and the entire episode led up to the eventual revelation. I won't spoil it, but the story is bitter sweet. It's an episode of loss and love, but also happiness and completion in the end. It has almost 80s vibes, reminded me of the pace, look and atmosphere of the film Teen Witch (1989), which is why it appealed to me so much, since I love that film too. The episode had an intriguing plot, which burned quicker as the story played through. For an episode that was so short, like all the AYAOTD episodes, but somehow, the story played like a movie. Idk how else to describe it other than, it was well made, well transitioned throughout and aesthetically.. it was great to watch. The brother and sister dynamic was great, and I believed every moment of all the emotions played out between them, and of course, between Donna and Johnny.

It got me!