Are you Afraid of the Dark?: “The Tale of the Water Demons” (S4E03)
Plot Summary
This eerie nautical episode follows Shawn, a timid teen who is working at his uncle’s seaside shop for the summer. One night, two grizzled sailors arrive and barter with Shawn’s uncle for a strange chest recovered from a shipwreck. After the sailors leave, Shawn accidentally opens the chest and discovers a set of old, drenched clothing and coins from a long-lost vessel. Unbeknownst to him, making contact with the artefacts awakens the Water Demons, the drowned crew who are desperate to reclaim what was stolen from them.
As night falls, Shawn begins seeing terrifying, waterlogged figures lurking near the docks and outside his window. The Demons grow bolder, dripping seawater wherever they appear and whispering in an ancient, gurgling tongue. To survive, Shawn must return the stolen items and learn the truth behind the doomed ship, piecing together clues while trying not to fall victim to the undead mariners.
Highlights:
- Exceptionally atmospheric creature design, with the soggy, barnacle-covered Demons being among the show’s most memorable monsters.
- Strong tension throughout, especially in scenes set near the water.
- Shawn’s growth from frightened bystander to active problem-solver is handled well.
What Doesn’t Work:
- The backstory of the shipwreck is delivered quickly and could have used more detail.
- Some sequences rely heavily on repetitive jump scares.
- A few of the dockside scenes feel slightly underlit.
Final Thoughts
“The Tale of the Water Demons” is a standout entry in season four, offering genuine creepiness with its undead sailors and mist-shrouded harbour setting. It captures the fear of the ocean at night with impressive style and remains one of the series’ most visually striking and unsettling stories.
