The Children

Horrorphile

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The Children

April 21st 2010 00:50

It’s great to still see some directors aren’t afraid to make a movie that doesn’t comply with the modern overkill of spelling everything out for audiences, or providing a tenuous explanation when none was necessary, or simply ignoring one of the most effective elements of a horror movie: atmosphere. Tom Shankland is one such director, and The Children (2008) is the movie.

Hannah Tointon as Casey

The premise is very simple, yet devastating; one family visiting another to celebrate the New Year in the English countryside in the cold heart of winter ends up with their children infected with an aggressive, unknown virus, who then turn murderously against their parents. It’s a horrifying and terrifying scenario, and director Shankland handles the chaos with consummate control.

The Children Raffiella Brooks and Jake Hathaway

Raffiella Brooks as Leah and Jake Hathaway as Nicky

The screenplay by Shankland is from a story by Paul Andrew Williams who wrote and directed London to Brighton (2006) and The Cottage (2008). Shankland directed the dense and intense psycho thriller WAZ (2007), which had its horror moments and was certainly drenched in the thickest atmosphere this side of Hell’s Kitchen, but The Children is a lot more resonant and memorable, dripping with dread, flickering and twitching like a deeply entrenched nightmare, and – most enjoyable of all – feels like a tale of domestic disintegration straight out of the mid-70s.

Eva Sayer as Miranda

Elaine (Eva Birthistle), and husband Jonah (Stephen Campbell Moore) arrive with petulant teenage daughter Casey (stunning Hannah Tointon), anxious Miranda (Eva Sayer) and sickly Paulie (William Howes). There’s an enthusiastic welcome from Elaine’s sister Chloe (Rachael Shelley), husband Robbie (Jeremy Sheffield), and their kids, broody Nicky (Jake Hathaway) and young, shy Leah (cute Raffiella Brooks). It’s a handful-and-a-half of loud, nervous, disruptive energy for the parents, but that ain’t nothing compared to the terror still to come.

William Howes as Paulie

After the kids have been put to bed and Chloe has purposefully embarrassed Casey in front of her mother by pointing out her clandestine belly tattoo after being spotted flirting with Robbie in the greenhouse, the adults finally get to relax and enjoy a little grown-up time. Meanwhile the dynamics between the children has shifted. Paulie, who had been throwing up, has become withdrawn, and now Leah coughs and splutters, wiping away a dark viscous substance from her mouth onto her pillow (cue: microscopic close-up of nasty swarming bacteria). Later after midnight Paulie awakes and stands over his sleeping parents staring with vacant, frightening intent.

OW! Now, that's gotta hurt!

It is the next day when the real shit hits the fan during a snow fight and sledge run down the soft hillside beside the house. Trouble, disaster and tragedy begin to snowball. The smug adults, including Casey, are pushed to the end of their tether, and become helpless, even useless, against the deadly sly machinations of all the children, except Miranda who apparently goes into shock. The isolation becomes overwhelming.

Rachael Shelley as Chloe

Director Shankland has garnered an excellent cast, and skillfully works against the old film industry adage of never working with children and animals, by coaxing and manipulating convincing performances of varying levels of intensity from the four younger children. The stand-out characterisation is Casey; despite her adolescent trouble-making, it is her plight the audience feels most empathy for, and which the movie narrows in on.

The Children Eva Birthistle and Hannah Tointon

Elaine (Eva Birthistle) protects Hannah from a juvenile ambush

The elliptical editing that occurs sporadically throughout contributes to the movie’s oppressive atmosphere of dreamlike unease, as does the frosty imagery of the surrounding forest and the childrens' abandoned toys. The moments of extreme violence pack some serious punch, and whilst not lingeringly graphic, they’re still horrendous (watch out for the ocular horror!)

Children of the apocalypse

The Children is a very eerie, apocalyptic tale, the scope of which only becomes terrifyingly clear in the last few minutes. There are questions left unanswered, but I’m a great fan of that 70s-esque nightmare mystique. The ending is left open, probably for sequel’s sake, but I hope one is never made, as the movie’s engulfing darkness is more powerful left as it is. I felt lucky to have seen this on the big screen as part of A Night of Horror film festival. Thanks guys!

Here's the US theatrical trailer:

Here's the US DVD trailer (warning! contains spoiler imagery):

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

2 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by JohnDoe

May 4th 2010 02:05

Film & TV on DVD

This one looked so tacky, but yours is one of several good reviews I have read...will see if candy will lure this baby.

Comment by Bryn

May 4th 2010 04:50

Horrorphile

JD, you need to check this out. Did you find it tacky from the trailer? I didn't watch the trailer before I saw it. I'd be surprised if you didn't like this as much as I did. I've a feeling Phiona would like it too.

[ Previous - Damned by Dawn AND The Dark Lurking ]

[ Next - The Haunting in Connecticut ]