If you’re like me, you’re probably hesitant to put away the Halloween decorations immediately after the holiday. Even though big box retailers have already cleared out their costumes, fake cobwebs, and bags of candy to make way for Christmas decorations, you’re at home still watching scary movies to try to hang on to one last vestige of the spooky season.

Fortunately, you can continue those spooky vibes with a fantastically frightful Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, which hits 4k Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, and digital on November 5 form Lionsgate!

I have to admit I’m the perfect target audience for Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. I grew up with the books that the movie is based on with the distinctive artwork burned into my retinas, but if I’m honest, I only remembered small snippets of the stories contained within. So when I first saw the trailer for the new theatrical release and saw the unforgettable visual of a spider’s leg twitching as it makes its way out of a character’s cheek, I was instantly transported back to childhood and reminded of an unsettling fear I had long forgotten.

“Stop poking it , maybe no one will notice.”

I didn’t know what to expect going into the movie, but knowing it was based on the book, I was expecting it to be an anthology movie like Creepshow with several individual stories. Boy, was I wrong. No, this movie is a singular narrative that is able to successfully tie in several of the most quintessential Scary Stories to tie it all together.

To succinctly sum up the plot without revealing too much, a group of teens stumble upon an abandoned mansion, decide to break in (of course), and discover a mysterious book in the basement dungeon containing horrific stories that come true. Our protagonists struggle to find the origin of the book, the motives of the author, and a way to stop the madness. Check out the trailer below for another refresher:

Though the movie is drastically different than the book, faithful fans will recognize a number of familiar stories such as “The Toe,” “The Haunted House,” and more. Most pleasing is that the unsettling visuals by the book’s original artist, Stephen Gammell, inspire the new production to disturbing effect. Producer Guillermo del Toro’s fingerprints are seen throughout director André Øvredal’s film.

“Be honest. Does this lighting make me look absolutely ghastly?”

I really liked the movie and found it to be new and not terribly tropey, which can be hard to do with so many horror movies saturating the market. The fresh-faced stars Zoe Margaret Colletti, Michael Garza, and Gabriel Rush give fantastic performances, and I was sad to see some of them exit the story so soon, which brings me to my next point.

Being based off of a children’s book and coupled with a PG-13 rating, you may think that this is a movie geared toward older children and preteens, but you’d be wrong. In this movie, actions have consequences and some of your favorite characters don’t have happy endings. There’s a dark finality that one wouldn’t expect from a children’s book turned into a movie.

I had grand plans of reading the book to my kids and then showing them the movie, but I’m glad I previewed it first, because I think my 10-year-old would have had nightmares for years. Older teens or adults like myself who grew up with the book are the perfect audience, whether or not the intended target.

You can catch the movie On Demand and Digital, but I’d encourage a physical copy. Not only can you go back and watch it at a later time if your kids (or you) decide you’re not quite brave enough to watch such a scary movie yet, but you’ll benefit from all the extra featurettes and behind-the-scenes goodness. Sadly, there’s no commentary track, however.

With an ending that leaves the possibility for a sequel, I’m hopeful there’s enough interest to turn this into a franchise. There’s certainly more Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark to draw from. But for now, whenever you decide to watch (and you should), make sure you turn out the lights.

Pick up your own copy of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD November 5, 2019.

(Disclaimer: I received a copy of the Blu-ray combo set for review purposes. All opinions are my own.)