Common Sense Media Review
Tween-friendly, ad-happy Halloween fright fest.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Based on 21 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is a mix of creepy and entertaining, making it suitable for older children but too intense for younger ones; it's described as not particularly gory but is still unsettling enough to cause nightmares. Opinions on the overall quality vary, with some finding it disappointing and predictable, while others enjoyed the comedy elements and relatable characters, particularly noting that it can serve as a good introduction to horror for younger audiences.
- creepy and entertaining
- too intense for younger
- not gory
- mixed opinions
- good introduction to horror
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Cassie (Hannah Montana's Emily Osment) is new to town and fascinated by the occult; Halloween is her favorite holiday. At a mysterious Halloween store, a stranger (Saw's Tobin Bell) insists on selling her an old book called The Evil Thing. Stuck babysitting brother Max (Alex Winzenread) on Halloween night, she reads the book to him just before bed, despite the book's warnings not to read it out loud or think about its monster. Now she must save her brother and defeat this other-worldly creature before Mom and Dad get back from their Halloween party.
Is It Any Good?
This campfire-style horror story is predictable to adults, but kids who've never seen any of those other movies may enjoy it and be on the edge of their seats for most of it. All good scary movies depend on the active imagination of the viewer. Just consider the power of suggestion in The Blair Witch Project to terrorize people. R.L. STINE'S HAUNTING HOUR: DON'T THINK ABOUT IT makes good use of this technique. The whole story is based around one simple and irresistible order: If you don't want the boogeyman to get you, don't think about him.
What's great about Don't Think About It is that it's straightforward. The bickering between Cassie and Max is totally relatable to anyone with siblings, which makes the plot seem plausible and that much more scary. It's a more kid-friendly version of It, combined with a less evil version of The Craft.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why scaring siblings is fun and how to better express their feelings. How does Cassie get punished for terrorizing her brother? Do you think her punishment is fair?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 4, 2007
- On DVD or streaming : September 4, 2007
- Cast : Brittany Curran , Cody Linley , Emily Osment
- Director : Alex Zamm
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Book Characters , Holidays
- Run time : 87 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : scary content and thematic elements.
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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