FilmDistrict and Miramax announced that FilmDistrict has acquired all US rights to the horror film Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark and will release on Aug 12.

Guillermo Del Toro and Mark Johnson produced the film, which screens at the EFM and is a remake of the 1973 TV film of the same name.

Guy Pearce, Katie Holmes and Bailee Madison play a family that moves into an old Rhode Island house where the young girl unwittingly unleashes an evil force. Troy Nixey makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Del Toro and Matthew Robbins.

“We’re very pleased to partner with FilmDistrict to bring Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark to US audiences,” Miramax CEO Mike Lang said. “Guillermo Del Toro has crafted a true thriller that exemplifies the type of high-quality films for which Miramax is known. We are thrilled to add it to our growing library and we look forward to maximising its US theatrical and long-term potential.”

“Nixey made a very impressive first film and we are thrilled to be working with Guillermo and Mark Johnson,” FilmDistrict CEO Peter Schlessel said. “Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark should be one of the most anticipated horror films of the summer, and it rounds out our 2011 slate nicely.”

“Miramax has done an inspired job finding the right home for our film that took 15 years to get made,” Del Toro added. “Partnering with Bob Berney is always an exciting privilege.”

Del Toro and FilmDistrict head of theatrical distribution Berney previously partnered on Pan’sLabyrinth when Berney was head of Picturehouse.

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