Are you Afraid of the Dark?: “The Tale of the Twisted Claw” (S1E04)
Are you Afraid of the Dark?: “The Tale of the Twisted Claw” (S1E04)
Plot Summary
Airing just after Halloween, “The Tale of the Twisted Claw” is a spooky reinterpretation of W. W. Jacobs’ classic short story “The Monkey’s Paw”, reimagined for younger audiences. The episode follows Kevin and Dougie, two mischievous boys who play a cruel prank on a reclusive old woman. When they later visit her house to apologise, she oddly forgives them and gives them a strange gift: a carved wooden claw that grants wishes.
Initially amused, the boys start making casual wishes, which, predictably, come true, but always with unsettling consequences. A wish for a new bike leads to a dangerous crash, and a wish for bravery results in overwhelming fear. The twist comes when one of the boys, in a panic, makes a darker wish without thinking through the consequences.
This episode succeeds in building suspense while providing a cautionary tale about greed, selfishness, and the unintended fallout of even the simplest desires. The eerie tone is sustained throughout, and the creepy visuals, especially the old woman’s house and the claw itself, help drive home the unsettling moral.
However, while the premise is strong, the ending feels abrupt and slightly too convenient. The resolution lacks the emotional weight that earlier scenes build up, and the characters don’t seem to learn quite enough from the harrowing experience.
Highlights:
- Classic horror inspiration with a kid-friendly twist
- Effective suspense and eerie tone
- Strong moral message about unintended consequences
What Doesn’t Work:
- Abrupt ending
- Characters don’t fully reflect on their actions
- Could have explored the horror elements more deeply
Final Thoughts:
“The Tale of the Twisted Claw” is a tense, well-paced morality tale that brings classic horror themes to a younger audience. While the conclusion is a bit tidy, it remains a memorable entry that shows how Are You Afraid of the Dark? could teach life lessons while still sending a shiver down your spine.
