5.5/10
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72 user 38 critic

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:

Something terrifying has happened to the children... pray you never meet them! 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

Co-writer / producer Carlton J. Albright struck several deals in the course of making this film. One involved giving to the favored charity of the cemetery caretakers in order to use the cemetery seen in the film. Another involved hiring a local girl as a production assistant so her father would agree to the use of his house. See more »

Goofs

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

Quotes

Dr. Joyce Gould: I want you to take a couple of codeines and rest.
[Leslie stares at the bottle and ignores Joyce]
See more »

Crazy Credits

No music is played over the credits. See more »

Connections

References Night of the Living Dead (1968) 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

 
starts out good...
30 July 2008 | by shmucking – See all my reviews

I thought the movie started out very promisingly. It had a sinister, understated beginning. But as the film progressed, it didn't follow through. The characters weren't interesting, the movie gets tedious and it didn't have any momentum. That seems to be the problem with a lot of horror films, and it's too bad on this one, because it could've been great. I'd love to see this movie re-made and have it follow through on the creepiness of the beginning. I think I'll buy it on VHS anyway. This was made around the time of all those delightful 80's horror films. Plus, the theater I saw it in had a weird flower smell that somehow fit the movie, and made it more scary.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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