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Product Description
British horror film directed by Tom Shankland, based on a story by Paul Andrew Williams. A relaxing Christmas break turns into a terrifying fight for survival as the children begin to turn on their parents and embark on a gruesome killing spree.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Puzzle box
Format:DVD
Being a Horror fan I have seen them all and was not expecting much from the trash that is flushed out to us. But I'm pleased to tell you that this movie was a nice surprise. The plot was basic, the characters were believable, and the movie had a nice pace. The basic concept as well as the promotional posters and stills looked great, so the only concerns I had left were the possible restrictions in depicting brutality committed by and violent retaliation against the children. Well I must say that I was really impressed with this film. Kudos to writer/director Tom Shankland for delivering an old-fashioned unhinged, uncompromising, shocking and hardcore-to-the-bone killer kids flick!. The Children is also a lot more than just an exploitative and senselessly violent shlock movie. It's a bona fide creepy and atmospheric thriller, with some genuine moments of sheer suspense, and even a witty social satire, with many accurate observations on nowadays family life. Two couples with mutual offspring as well as children from previous relationships unite in a secluded country house to celebrate the New Year.
Suddenly and seemingly without inducement, a vicious and unidentified virus metamorphoses the children into emotionless killers. Shankland does a terrific job building up a foreboding suspense all throughout the first half of the movie; without showing any graphic bloodshed. The Children honestly creeps you out and makes you feel tense long before the kids' murderous tendencies break loose. Elements that contribute to increase the already quite high level of exasperation include the isolated country setting, eerie soundtrack and - of course - the misleadingly innocent faces of the child actors.... Read more ›
Suddenly and seemingly without inducement, a vicious and unidentified virus metamorphoses the children into emotionless killers. Shankland does a terrific job building up a foreboding suspense all throughout the first half of the movie; without showing any graphic bloodshed. The Children honestly creeps you out and makes you feel tense long before the kids' murderous tendencies break loose. Elements that contribute to increase the already quite high level of exasperation include the isolated country setting, eerie soundtrack and - of course - the misleadingly innocent faces of the child actors.... Read more ›
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Albatross
Format:DVD
...it's the adults you have to feel sorry for here. `The Children' is a horror movie about a couple of yuppie families, coming together to celebrate new year's eve in a nice, out-of-the-way mansion (one of those with no mobile phone signal just when you need them). After discussing the benefits of home-schooling their offspring and Chinese herbal medicine, the children of both families go nuts and start murdering their parents indiscriminately. Why? Um, we don't know. They just do.
It's actually quite good too. There is gore, but it's done well and not overused. The adults are pretty smug and it's quite fun when they get the smile wiped off their faces using a sledge and a climbing frame (you'll have to watch it to understand).
The first half of the film sets the second, more gruesome, half up quite nicely. The best part of The Children is the children. It was obviously difficult persuading a bunch over under ten year olds to act like Jason Voorhees, but they've managed it here (presumably without ending up psychologically damaging the poor kids for life). The kids are pretty damn creepy.
Some reviewers have pointed out that one of the film's flaws is that the baddies are kids. Just kids. No superpowers or anything, just kids. Therefore it shouldn't be that hard to subdue them. However, bear in mind that those being hunted are the children's parents, therefore they may find it hard to defend themselves against a little person they've spent their life bringing up.
The Children isn't a perfect movie, but if you like horror, you should find it fun.
Of course if the parents had done what the rest of us adults do when our kids get out of hand, i.e.... Read more ›
It's actually quite good too. There is gore, but it's done well and not overused. The adults are pretty smug and it's quite fun when they get the smile wiped off their faces using a sledge and a climbing frame (you'll have to watch it to understand).
The first half of the film sets the second, more gruesome, half up quite nicely. The best part of The Children is the children. It was obviously difficult persuading a bunch over under ten year olds to act like Jason Voorhees, but they've managed it here (presumably without ending up psychologically damaging the poor kids for life). The kids are pretty damn creepy.
Some reviewers have pointed out that one of the film's flaws is that the baddies are kids. Just kids. No superpowers or anything, just kids. Therefore it shouldn't be that hard to subdue them. However, bear in mind that those being hunted are the children's parents, therefore they may find it hard to defend themselves against a little person they've spent their life bringing up.
The Children isn't a perfect movie, but if you like horror, you should find it fun.
Of course if the parents had done what the rest of us adults do when our kids get out of hand, i.e.... Read more ›
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By G Rees
Format:DVD
I really enjoyed this movie, interesting concept: a virus making kids turn homocidal. The only problem I had was the fact that so many adults were killed ....by little kids. The thing is, as much as I love my children if they came after me with a butcher knife or some other implement I wouldn't just let them kill me because I love them. I'd kick the child in quetion square in the face and cry while doing it. These weren't even like 12+, we're talking 5-8 year olds; even the weakest healthy adult woman is stronger, heavier and smarter than a 6 year old. Even if the virus made them smarter, it didn't make them stronger. It's like the parents had no will to live and just laid down to let their children murder them. Even still though, I enjoyed it. The ending however, would have me nervous.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By jsnell
Format:DVD
in a nutshell 'the children' is about two families who are on vacation during winter, which turns into a fight for survival after the kids turn on their parents post to becoming somewhat psychotic. initially this sounds ridiculous, yet it's actually executed well, with careful developments on the children's mental deterioration, starting with the disappearance of the families domestic pet which then insidiously elevates into sadistic activity on the children's part.
i don't usually like to take films too seriously but despite this, there is definitely an issue with the films credibility; especially concerning the parents response to their children's psychotic behaviour. they irrationally become incapable of effectively defending themselves against their kids, , which may be attributed to the brutality of what is happening, yet in this particular situation it's proves very difficult to believe and is similarly not that scary. however, this wasn't a bad watch and as far as low budget british horror goes it was definitely worth it, i wouldn't necessarily advise potential buyers to steer away, yet it's far from brilliant and won't really keep you on the edge of your seat.
i don't usually like to take films too seriously but despite this, there is definitely an issue with the films credibility; especially concerning the parents response to their children's psychotic behaviour. they irrationally become incapable of effectively defending themselves against their kids, , which may be attributed to the brutality of what is happening, yet in this particular situation it's proves very difficult to believe and is similarly not that scary. however, this wasn't a bad watch and as far as low budget british horror goes it was definitely worth it, i wouldn't necessarily advise potential buyers to steer away, yet it's far from brilliant and won't really keep you on the edge of your seat.
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3.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Okay
It's okay, worth a watch, little creepy but failed to impress where I want others to watch. Worth the money, perfect quality, undecided if it's a keeper.
Published 3 months ago by Ms. BA Woollcott
1.0 out of 5 stars
boaring
would not reccomend what boaring film watched trailers for this film before buying but some bits from trailers was not in film do not know if there is a uncut version
Published 3 months ago by Mr. Christopheer T. Fox
1.0 out of 5 stars
buyrapreview
do not waste your money on this garbage film.total waste of time.silly middle class english rubbish.not scarey.insult to horror films
Published 5 months ago by buyrapreview
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intense, scary
This is one of the scariest films I've ever seen. A family get-together over the Christmas period turns brutal and gory when the children catch a strange virus that turns them... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Victoria Hill
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty shocking but fantastic
I have to admit, the first time that I watched this film, it left me pretty shocked and I couldn't work out if I liked it or not. Read more
Published 12 months ago by T Homyard
4.0 out of 5 stars
children
very good but quite scarey i would recomend watching it but not when young children awake good film i though would watch again
Published 12 months ago by C. Kenney
5.0 out of 5 stars
"..BRILLIANT!!! TOP HORROR.."
This film is a very well crafted horror thriller, the story is clever and very original, the overall feeling of the movie throughout is very, very creepy. Read more
Published 14 months ago by S. Drury
4.0 out of 5 stars
Did you ever hear of contraception?
The Children is directed by Tom Shankland who adapts the screenplay from a Paul Andrew Williams story. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Spike Owen
1.0 out of 5 stars
EMBARRASSING TRASH
Two families of unlikable characters you don't care about are isolated and then start dieing in a mix of unlikely and downright laughable ways. Read more
Published 15 months ago by GregShineALight
4.0 out of 5 stars
Really Creepy....
I found it atmospherically creepy, which I prefer to too much gore. The kids themselves were very believable and I thought it all came together very well, although there wasn't... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mayor Hobbies
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