The Worst Film Ever

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

The concept of the film that under 10's could take out a group of adults seems a ridiculous concept; that is until you realise how gullible and immensely stupid the parents really are. If it would have been me, all the kids would have been dead within five minutes of the first murder and I'd have had one of them for Christmas dinner; as they didn't appear to have a turkey. Also, you would have been able to have another one for new year; freeze the rest and that's another two years sorted. The only one that seemed to grasp the concept of their situation was the eldest daughter, who against the odds, (and of course the stupid parents) did a sterling job of wiping out the screaming little brats. The only redeeming feature of this film and the reason I gave it an eight, is that kids died .... and we don't get enough of that in films (For the ultimate child death, watch the opening scenes of 'God Bless America' ..... Excellent....

From the many good reviews and great praises this movie had gotten, then I had my expectation up high. But I must say that the movie failed to live up to those expectations. While the premises were quite interesting and the movie did offer some unique things, it just didn't push the right buttons for me.The story is about two families away together on a countryside vacation. And what starts as an idyllic vacation with snow and fun suddenly turns into a fight for their lives as their children mysteriously turn ill and start attacking the adults.Personally I found the no description of what caused the children to go berserk an interesting thing, because it keeps the audience in the dark and guessing. But I could also see how it would be a cause of frustration to some.And the fact that it is children who kill and also gets killed is something rarely seen in movies. So director Tom Shankland deserves a thumbs up for breaking the norm and going into taboo land.There were some good enough death scenes and a bit of blood and gore too. And again the director dares to show stuff that goes past what is commonly seen in movies.However, there was just something missing from the movie in order for it to really captivate me. I don't know what it was, but it just lacked that special ingredient.

A powerful film that brilliantly plays upon every parent's worst fear: that their young children will turn on them during Christmas vacation and chase them with knives. Anyone who has been through this experience will especially find this a deeply disturbing, haunting motion picture experience. The movie captures beautifully the pain of these horrified parents as their little loved ones enter a homicidal rage and pursue them without mercy. The transition from loving mother and father to simply a human being fighting for survival in the most extreme circumstances imaginable is sensitively observed and tastefully depicted. Certainly a film that will bring buried fears to the surface and reawaken bad memories of past holiday unpleasantness.

Not too long ago I saw a movie with exact the same title and the same concept. I don't think this movie is a remake of the 1980 version. Both movies are about kids who become infected by some kind of unknown virus which send them on a killing spree on adults. The old version had hardly build-up or character development. The new version takes a while to warm up (which is good) and gives us time to get to know the characters and sympathize with them, especially with teenage daughter Casey. A lot of things are seen from her point of view. Who hopes for lots of deaths in the most gruesome ways will be disappointed. Even though the body count is rather low the tension is there throughout the whole movie. I have seen better movies with this theme like "Who can Kill a Child?" and "Bloody Birthday", but eventually The Children is a movie than can grow on me by multiple viewings.