The Children (2008)

A relaxing Christmas vacation turns into a terrifying fight for survival as the children begin to turn on their parents.

Director:

Tom Shankland

Writers:

Paul Andrew Williams (story), Tom Shankland

Stars:

Eva Birthistle, Stephen Campbell Moore, Jeremy Sheffield

1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Eva Birthistle	...	Elaine
Stephen Campbell Moore	...	Jonah
Jeremy Sheffield	...	Robbie
Rachel Shelley	...	Chloe
Hannah Tointon	...	Casey
Rafiella Brooks	...	Leah
Jake Hathaway	...	Nicky
William Howes	...	Paulie
Eva Sayer	...	Miranda

Storyline

Elaine and Jonah and their teenage daughter and young son and daughter, come to spend New Year with her sister Chloe and husband Robbie and their two young children at their isolated country home. One by one the children, after apparently being sick, become increasingly malevolent.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | killer child | murder of a child | death of mother | child murders an adult | 

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Taglines:

You brought them into this world. Now ... They will take you out.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing bloody violent content, terror, language and brief drug use

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was nominated for the 2009 Fright Meter Award for Best Horror Movie.

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Goofs

While Casey keeps smashing at the locked door and apparently partly breaking through it, it seems her actions also opened up the lock magically. Also Elaine should be still sitting in front of it, however Casey is able to open it the outside way without any obstacle in the way.

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Quotes

Miranda: Bye-bye Mummy.
Elaine: What?
Miranda: Be nice to Leah and Nicky
[grabs her leg splints]
Miranda: .

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Connections

References SimCity (1989)

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Soundtracks

One and a Same
Written by S. Reid / S. Alexander / C. Roberts / D. Warwick
Performed by Amino
Published by Spit Publishing UK Limited
Courtesy of Spit Kingdom Records Ltd

User Reviews

Eerie, and tension packed. An impressive movie.

Two families gather at a remote house for a Christmas and new year holiday. However, the young children affected by something in the woods, begin to turn on the adults.

I have to say, this movie was a welcome surprise. Written and directed by Tom Shankland (who made WAZ), and based on a story from Paul Andrew Williams (who made the recent horror The Cottage), The Children is a very well made movie.

One of the main reasons I enjoyed it was that it never explains why the children are doing what they are doing. It's suggested there is something in the woods to blame, but it is never fully explained. In a way this is similar to The Ruins, or even Rec and I liked that. Too many movies try to explain what is going on, but the better horror movies leave it open and I think this approach works better, as it does here.

The cast are all pretty good, with special mention given to Eva Sayer as one of the children, and Hannah Tointon as Casey the only teen in the group.

One of the clever things about this movie, and there are many things to like about it,is how the adults react as events get out of control. To begin with they are nice and friendly couples (the two women being sisters), but as the movie progresses, they turn on themselves as they refuse to accept what is happening. Of course by the time they do realise what is going on, it's much too late!

The movie is rated 15 in the UK, and does keep most of the violence off-screen, but it is creepy through-out, and Shankland keeps the tension and unease high, even when nothing has happened yet. And he stages some some impressive scenes, especially the first adult attack, involving a sledge, a trolley, with sharp items on it. It could almost come from a Final Destination movie!

And to top of everything, there is the ending. While not a truly bleak ending (although some may see it that way), it's a very, very creepy ending, and one I really didn't expect.

As horror movies go for this year, this is one of the best I've seen.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 December 2008 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Children

Filming Locations:

Cookhill Priory, Cookhill, Alcester, Warwickshire, England, UK

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,300,051

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vertigo Films, Aramid Entertainment Fund, Barnsnape Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1