Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman is best known for his absolutely mind-bending films like Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind and Anomalisa, and he would be the last person anyone would think to be behind a children’s film—but here we are.
Netflix has just dropped a new trailer for DreamWorks’ Orion and the Dark, and it puts a whole new twist on facing your fears. Watch this:
Follows Orion, a young boy who is afraid of heights, pets, and rendered nearly catatonic by the worst of all perils: the dark. The Dark takes Orion on a nighttime trip to prove to the youngster that the only thing to fear is fear itself.
The movie has Jacob Tremblay (Luca, Good Boys) providing the voice of Orion with Paul Water Hauser (Cobra Kai, Richard Jewell) voicing the part of the Dark. Surprisingly, Werner Herzog is also part of the cast list.
The film is actually based on a picture book from Emma Yarlett which came out back in 2015. Though the original book did have its own art style, the film does implement a new original design for the characters in the film.
I have to say, the idea that the Dark could actually be a benevolent monster is an interesting take, and should be the perfect premise for a kids’ movie. I’m just wondering if Kaufman is going to add some of his own ideas into the film, or if this is another “Adaptation.”-type job.
Orion and the Dark comes out on Netflix on Feb. 22, 2024.
