The Children (1980)

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

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	...	Paul MacKenzie
Clara Evans	...	Jenny Freemont
Sarah Albright	...	Ellen Chandler
Nathanael Albright	...	Tommy Button
Julie Carrier	...	Janet Shore
Michelle La Mothe	...	Dr. Joyce Gould (as Michelle LeMothe)
Edward Terry	...	Hank
Peter Maloney	...	Frank
Jessie Abrams	...	Clarkie Freemont

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?

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Plot Keywords:

drive in classic | grindhouse film | midnight movie | zombie survival | zombie film | 

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Taglines:

It only takes five to hold a town in TERROR...

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 June 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Children of Ravensback

Filming Locations:

Muddy Brook Cemetery, Stony Brook Road, Great Barrington, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$400,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Albright Films Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kevin McCarthy was approached to play a role in this film.

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Goofs

Molly running out to hug the children and her subsequent death should not have been heard over the CB as the mike button needs to be pressed in order to be heard, and even if she had the CB mike in her hand, it wouldn't have been able to stretch far enough to make it all the way to where the children were standing.

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Quotes

Sanford Butler-Jones: Just what are you trying to tell us, Sheriff?
Sheriff Billy Hart: [angrily] That Janet is MISSING!... Along with all the other Children of Ravensback.
Dee Dee Shore: You don't think they've been kidnapped, do you?
Sheriff Billy Hart: I don't know what to think.
Dee Dee Shore: [in a stoned voice] A kidnapping in Ravensback! Oh Jack, how exciting!
[giggles while smoking a joint]
Sheriff Billy Hart: This s a... a lovely piece, Mrs. Shore.
[holds up an ashtray full of weed with an appalled look]
Dee Dee Shore: Why Sheriff, I didn't know you were into art! Jack and I brought that piece back from Rome last ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

No music is played over the credits.

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Alternate Versions

The Vinegar Syndrome release of this film features an additional scene set in a diner in which the sheriff speaks to a waitress at said diner.

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Connections

References Alien (1979)

User Reviews

Cult-horror classic with soon to be famous horror soundtrack from another horror film

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.