Are you Afraid of the Dark?: “The Tale of Old Man Corcoran” (S2E13)
Are you Afraid of the Dark?: “The Tale of Old Man Corcoran” (S2E13)
Plot Summary
The season two finale delivers a classic blend of mischief and menace. The story follows brothers Jack and Kenny, who have just moved to a new town and are eager to fit in. They’re invited by a group of local kids to play a night-time game of hide-and-seek in the town cemetery. The only rule: avoid Old Man Corcoran—the creepy caretaker rumoured to haunt the graveyard after dark.
At first, it’s all in good fun, with spooky dares and laughter echoing through the tombstones. But the mood shifts when Jack and Kenny encounter a strange old man who warns them to leave. When the kids start disappearing one by one, the brothers realise the legend might be real. In a chilling twist, the boys discover that Old Man Corcoran was actually trying to protect them—from the ghostly children themselves. The final reveal leaves viewers questioning who was alive and who was dead all along.
Highlights:
- Perfect use of a graveyard setting, balancing playfulness with genuine tension.
- The twist ending is one of the series’ most memorable.
- Excellent pacing that builds from childhood adventure to eerie revelation.
What Doesn’t Work:
- Some of the acting from the younger cast is uneven.
- The ghost effects, while nostalgic, don’t quite hold up.
- The brothers’ relationship could have been explored more deeply.
Final Thoughts
“The Tale of Old Man Corcoran” closes season two with a strong dose of campfire horror. It’s a quintessential Are You Afraid of the Dark? episode—mixing urban legend, moral lesson, and a haunting twist that lingers. With its dark humour and perfectly eerie tone, it remains one of the most iconic entries in the show’s early years.
