10 Horror Movies That Will Make You Terrified Of Children

Released in 2001, Battle Royale is a Japanese action thriller directed by Kinji Fukasaku, and based on the novel of the same name by Koushun Takami. In the film, a group of schoolchildren are abandoned on a remote island, and given a backpack containing food, a compass and a random weapon of indiscriminate proficiency. Tasked only with survival, the children are fitted with exploding collars, and instructed to murder the competition.

Essentially the Japanese precursor to Hunger Games, Battle Royale will have you questioning the inherent innocence of children. In fact, in an interview, Kinji Fukasaku suggested that the film was actually inspired by youth crime, which was considered a prominent issue at the time, at least in certain areas of Japan. In that respect, Battle Royale is an exploration of delinquency, as well as the degree of violence to which children are capable.

Verdict: Battle Royale is about children murdering each other in horrendous ways, many of who demonstrate little remorse or compassion. In reality, when push comes to shove, anyone is capable of pretty much anything, but children are especially vindictive, and will stop at nothing to save themselves at whatever cost, at least according to the film.