In a small American town, a diabolical circus arrives, granting wishes for the townsfolk, but twisted as only the esteemed Mr. Dark can make them. Can two young boys overcome the worst the devil himself can deal out?
A lively, entertaining tale combining boyishness and grown-up horror in equal measure.
– Janet Maslin,
New York Times,
30 Aug 2004
fresh:
The plot concerns a mysterious carnival outside a small town in the early 1900s that grants the wishes of the town's citizens, with dark consequences.
– Jonathan Rosenbaum,
Chicago Reader,
10 Mar 2009
rotten:
Possibilities for a dark, child's view fantasy set in rural America of yore are visible throughout the $20 million production but various elements have not entirely congealed into a unified achievement.