The Children – 2008 | 84 mins | Horror | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Originally titled The Day, this yuletide horror is the second directorial effort of Tom Shankland and based on a story by London to Brighton writer Paul Andrew Williams. This taboo-shattering chiller taps in to primal fears about the unknown-ability of malevolent children in a highly suspenseful tale recalling earlier ‘demon child’ movies such as The Omen, The Shining, Village of the Damned and Don’t Look Now.  Shankland’s approach is mostly psychological rather than graphic, but these icy chills will send shivers down your spine. Hollyoaks actress Hannah Tointon produces a compelling performance as a sulky teenager whose adult intelligence is shot through with an infantile ruthlessness.

Two families get together in an isolated country house to share a little Yuletide cheer. Then one by one, the children start vomiting, fall ill and turn on the adults with a blank-faced spite that shocks even their loving parents. An accident with a sledge is a harbinger of worse to come. Innocent children’s playthings – bright yellow play tents, climbing frames and pencils – are imbued with a scary malevolence. Stranded in limbo is ‘the abortion that got away’ – moody teenager Casey (Hannah Tointon), who is wearisome of the children from the outset and is prepared to strike back when their behaviour turns malevolent.