The Children (2008) Starring Hannah Tointon, William Howes & Eva Birthistle Directed by Tom Shankland Written by Tom Shankland & Paul Andrew Williams

Starring a number of familiar faces, for UK audiences at least, we are introduced to typically troubled teen Casey (Hannah Tointon). Forced to miss out on the seasons partying to play pseudo babysitter to her plethora of younger half siblings and cousins she’s also forced to contend with her aunt’s oversexed husband’s advances. The children run around manically and the adults play the whole small talk while making digs at one another game, all while token emo/goth Casey looks on.

A feeling of tension is evoked long before anything actually happens. This is largely centered around Casey’s younger brother Paulie. While I assume he is autistic, this is never confirmed in the film but seems likely given his distant behavior from his very first scene. The isolated, snowed in location also adds a bleakness and opportunity for some dramatic shots (blood on snow is very effective cinematically), reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick’s ’The Shining’.

During the first night, two of the four children develop coughs and a mild sickness. They also claim to be ’scared of Paulie’. It is suggested that the sickness may be caused by some kind of biological influence. This, like many things in the film, is introduced to the audience, only to never be touched on again. A real feeling of unease is built upon as we get further hints of what is to come, culminating in a crazy outburst during Christmas dinner, from the little ankle biters. From here the adults get terrorized and maimed in some rather entertaining ways and, I have to say, for a 15 cert film, there are a couple of moments with a real wince factor (watch out for the climbing frame scene - ouch!) and they don’t skimp on the gore.

The child actors perform perfectly, with genuine malice and are relentless in their pursuit of their loving parents. We predictably begin to see divides amongst the grown-ups as the disbelief and personal disputes only add fuel to the crazed situation and it is this which adds a bit of weight to what could have easily been a more flimsy, less character driven plot.

Teen Casey happily takes the helm of defiance against her bratty younger siblings and cousins, even slaying her own brother to save her mother in one gruesome scene. Still, despite all the action it’s hard to deflect from some baffling plot flaws. Firstly the lack of explanation to what the hell made the children turn as they do is never addressed and the end attempt to give an answer is just plain ridiculous (the woods surrounding the area seem to contain ghostly children of past and present...why do we not see these children before? What’s the meaning of this?! Hardly believable and an unnecessary addition, I feel). Also it may be unintentional, but the director seems to be trying to emulate Kubrick throughout. Note the long hallway shots and one death scene involving a white door (The Shining anyone?). Rather than a homage, he seems to have simply added straight up copies of Kubrick’s work. This is a bit of an insult to those of us who are fans of the late auteur. Besides, the director obviously has a vision of his own, as is displayed more than adequately in certain scenes, so why detract from this?

The heart of the film is Casey’s relationship with her mother and how, in some perverse way due to the events which unravel, it is salvaged. Again adding that extra dimension to what could have been a straight up slasher movie but with under 12’s as the protagonists. Casey’s attempts to save her mother are thwarted by her mother’s refusal to accept (despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary - one of her little darlings tries to stab her) that the children she bore into existence could really be beyond all salvation. At the start of the film she was the semi-MILF with a new, uptight hubby and new lease of domestic bliss. By the closing credits she had lost them all, including her husband who rather thoughtfully leaves his stepdaughter and wife to escape with his ’Princess’ - elder daughter, blissfully unaware that she will soon seal his doom. As evil killers go, children prove to be pretty effective vehicles, after all who could slay a child - even if it was for self preservation? Then imagine that psychotic tot was your own flesh and blood, all cute and tiny but with a dark, murderous intent and you see the ingenuity potential here.

Overall, I’d say The Children is worth a look. If you are new to the horror genre (as most of the loudmouths in the cinema clearly were), you may find this to be sufficiently scary and bloody. If however, you are a more seasoned fan, it is likely to be nothing more than average for you. This type of film has been done before and far more effectively (Village of The Damned and The Omen for instance). The director throws up a number of questions then seems to get distracted and takes our attention elsewhere. The script’s also a bit corny and I found the goth Casey more annoying than someone I’d relate to or root for. Still enough ranting from me, I feel I’ve vented my cinematic admission price back now and one thing the film did leave me with was a distinct distrust of anyone under 5ft, so I guess it succeeded on some level......

6/10 Rating