18. Various - The Children (2008)
It's Christmas time, but there is little festive cheer for the adults in The Children whenever their kids get transformed into homicidal maniacs. The parents are ripe fodder for the children because they can't believe their kids have developed murderous tendencies and therefore, they are pretty powerless in their fight against them. It is truly a case of expect the unexpected and the parents are psychologically traumatised. The children are well cast and very effective in their roles. There is something satisfying in watching the smug, middle class parents go to pieces when the kiddie-based mayhem gets underway. The parents are not very well characterised and their decisions are stupid. Nevertheless, the film is well paced and the director gets the most out of the locations. Most of the horror is implied or shown off screen. The children are creepy because they act innocent one minute and like rabid killers the next. You never know what way they are going to turn. A laudable effort from Tom Shankland.
Clare Simpson
Contributor
My first film watched was Carrie aged 2 on my dad's knee. Educated at The University of St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin. Fan of Arthouse, Exploitation, Horror, Euro Trash, Giallo, New French Extremism. Weaned at the bosom of a Russ Meyer starlet. The bleaker, artier or sleazier the better!
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Clare