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The Children (1980)

R | | Horror, Sci-Fi | 13 June 1980 (USA)
The Children Poster
A nuclear-plant leak turns a bus-load of children into murderous atomic zombies with black fingernails.

Director:

Max Kalmanowicz

Writers:

Carlton J. Albright (screenplay), Edward Terry (screenplay)

Stars:

Martin Shakar, Gil Rogers, Gale Garnett | See full cast & crew »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Martin Shakar ... John Freemont
Gil Rogers ... Sheriff Billy Hart
Gale Garnett ... Cathy Freemont
Shannon Bolin ... Molly
Tracy Griswold ... Deputy Harry Timmons
Joy Glaccum ... Suzie MacKenzie
Jeptha Evans Jeptha Evans ... Paul MacKenzie
Clara Evans Clara Evans ... Jenny Freemont
Sarah Albright ... Ellen Chandler
Nathanael Albright ... Tommy Button
Julie Carrier Julie Carrier ... Janet Shore
Michelle La Mothe Michelle La Mothe ... Dr. Joyce Gould (as Michelle LeMothe)
Edward Terry ... Hank
Peter Maloney ... Frank
Jessie Abrams Jessie Abrams ... Clarkie Freemont
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

A busload of children has disappeared from the quiet New England town of Ravensback, and Sheriff Billy Hart is on the case. A short while later, he manages to track down the kids, but unfortunately they seem to have been transformed into murderous zombies by a cloud of radioactive gas. How can he stop the killer tykes before they destroy the town? Written by Jean-Marc Rocher <rocher@fiberbit.net>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

drive in classic | grindhouse film | grindhouse | midnight movie | zombie survival | See All (76) »

Taglines:

It only takes five to hold a town in TERROR... See more »

Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
Edit

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 June 1980 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

The Children of Ravensback See more »

Filming Locations:

Muddy Brook Cemetery, Stony Brook Road, Great Barrington, Massachusetts, USA See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Albright Films Inc. See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The original idea was that co-writer / producer Carlton J. Albright's friend Edward Terry (who plays Hank) would direct, but circumstances ended in Max Kalmanowicz getting the directing gig. This caused a rift in the Albright / Terry friendship that mended in time for them to make Luther the Geek (1989) together 10 years later. See more »

Goofs

Clarkie is not heard screaming when he dies by Paul's hands. See more »

Quotes

Tommy Button: Joyce!
Dr. Joyce Gould: Tommy... a- a- AHHH!
See more »

Crazy Credits

No music is played over the credits. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Three Day Pass (1982) See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does the soundtrack for this film sound so similar to the soundtrack from Friday the 13th?
Q: Why is The Children so scratchy? There are little black lines and dots all over the place!
Q: Was The Children referencing other films, or was it ever referenced in newer films?
See more »

User Reviews

Cult-horror classic with soon to be famous horror soundtrack from another horror film
15 October 2002 | by badgirlkane – See all my reviews

I saw The Children when I was 6 years old at a drive-in in Mississippi and at the age of six it scared the hell out of me.Watching it twenty-years later it's one of the funniest "I'm trying to be scary horror film"The best part is the soundtrack is the same one used in another horror classic released that same year "Friday the 13th" Watchable but only to those you love pure cheese in their horror films.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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