The Children Review by deadhorse13

Written by: deadhorse13

Killer kid movies can be a very mixed bag. When handled carefully, the mechanics of these types of films can be very compelling. The familiar genre most often exploits the perceived innocence of children contradicting their savage acts on display. You are eventually put to the task of questioning what you would do in a similar situation, which can have a polarizing effect, especially for the more sensitive. I usually find a heavy suspension of disbelief required to enjoy these films, but occasionally they do bear the fruit of emotional involvement, which is critical to their success. This regularly boils down to the integrity of the performances between the two camps in relation to what is transpiring. The Children doesn't break any new ground in this area, but it is a well acted and suspenseful ride that I found very enjoyable.

Two families get together for the Christmas holidays in the remote English countryside. Upon arrival, one of the children becomes ill and unresponsive, which the parents attribute to only travel sickness. Soon the rest of the kiddos begin to show similar signs of withdrawal. The first act ends with one of the adults meeting his demise in an unfortunate accident. The children's blank expressions and disinterest in the episode quickly alert the viewer that these youth are getting very restless, to say the least. The oldest girl, a teenager named Casey, quickly grows aware of the threat. She tries to warn the adults, but they predictably refuse to accept that their pride and joys could be capable of such barbarity. Circumstances then begin to divide the parents on who is responsible, and Casey finds herself becoming the chief suspect. It becomes a fight for survival as the troubled teen tries to convince her doubting elders otherwise before it's too late.

The interplay between all of the characters is handled respectably, most surprisingly among the younger cast members, who do come off as very creepy and menacing. The drama's relationship dynamics play an integral part of giving The Children its pulse. There is tension between between the children and the adults, as well as tension within each of the respective parties, not to mention the one in the know. As with most of these ventures, the inevitable showdown becomes a tricky affair to pull off convincingly. Understandable but unfortunate restraint is often used in depicting violence against youth, often stealing from the intended jolts. The Children struggles with this enigma as well, but does its best at conveying its more horrid aspects through suggestion, wherein my biggest fault lies. Too much of the action occurs off screen, or glimpsed through rapid edits that stifle the shocks. However, what is shown is very well done.

The Children definitely has its moments. The film is technically proficient, it looks and sounds great, and the pacing keeps things moving along smartly. Nothing revelatory is happening here, yet the overall presentation is slick enough to get by on the tired premise. Everyone's a victim here, and you're left up to your own devices on what might have been the catalyst, giving the film some much needed heft. I think the lean script could have been beefed up to amplify the dread, but it still manages to be disturbing. If you're a fan of the killer kid movies (which I am), then this is worthy of your attention. I just felt it put on its gloves a little too often stealing from an even more visceral punch.

On a side note - if you are a fan of the sub-genre I highly recommend the 1976 Spanish film Who Can Kill A Child?, one of the more gripping films to cover this well worn territory.

In addition, I also highly suggest you read moviemaven's article
Beyond The Comfort Zone 2: The Death Of Innocence - which directly addresses the way these types of films can, and should, challenge a viewer's perception and boundaries on what is acceptable within the genre. It's a very good read.

This is a community member review and not a staff member review. We appreciate and respect the opinions of our readers and are gratefull that they took the time to contribute it.

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