The Children Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A family gathering during the holidays turns into a toddler apocalypse when the kids catch a mysterious disease that makes them want to murder their parents, and the parents are too polite to do anything about it until it’s too late.

🍿 The Children: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Arrival and Initial Unease

Elaine and Jonah, along with their teenage daughter Casey and younger children Miranda and Paulie, arrive at a remote country house to spend New Year’s with Elaine’s sister Chloe, her husband Robbie, and their kids, Leah and Nicky. Paulie feels ill during the journey. Casey is upset about missing a party.

Sickness and Strange Behavior

During the night, several children become sick, exhibiting strange symptoms. Their behavior becomes increasingly disturbing. The family cat disappears, hinting at the children’s growing malevolence. Small acts of violence begin escalating, hinting at something much darker at play.

Escalating Violence and Realization

Accidents start happening, orchestrated by the children. Robbie dies in a sledding accident caused by Nicky. The adults begin to realize something is terribly wrong as the children turn violent. The parents struggle to accept that their children are dangerous, leading to poor decisions.

Survival and Desperate Measures

The adults are attacked, forcing Elaine and Casey to seek shelter. Tensions rise as the adults turn on each other, struggling to survive. Casey emerges as the most resourceful, taking decisive action to protect herself and her mother. The children systematically isolate and eliminate the adults.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Elaine (Eva Birthistle): A mother who struggles to protect her family when a mysterious illness turns the children murderous.
• Casey (Hannah Tointon): A troubled teenager who is initially mistrusted but proves to be resourceful in the face of danger.
• Jonah (Stephen Campbell Moore): Elaine’s second husband who clashes with Casey and struggles to grasp the severity of the situation.
• Chloe (Rachel Shelley): Elaine’s sister, who is initially skeptical but ultimately becomes a victim of the infected children.
• Robbie (Jeremy Sheffield): Chloe’s husband who is one of the first to fall victim to the children’s deadly behavior.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Casey: “Did you ever hear of contraception?” – Casey says this sarcastically to her mother when asked to help with her younger siblings, highlighting her rebellious nature.
• Elaine: “They’re just children.” – Said repeatedly by the adults, showing their initial denial and unwillingness to accept the danger.

💰Box Office

• Budget: Unknown
• Domestic Gross: Unknown
• Worldwide Gross: $1.3M

💥 The Children Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, this movie messed me up! The idea of kids turning evil is always creepy, but this one felt so real. I found myself constantly thinking about the dynamic between the parents. The scene with the sled… I was not ready! Then, when Casey had to fend off one of the younger children… I was on the edge of my seat! I wish they’d given more explanation, though. I’m still thinking about it days later and I am not sure if I liked the ending or not.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of British horror”
  • “Viewers interested in psychological thrillers”
  • “Those who appreciate films with ambiguous endings”
  • “Horror fans looking for something different than typical slasher flicks”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence involving children”
  • “Gore”
  • “Disturbing themes”
  • “Brief language”

Professional Reviews

• HorrorNews.net: “The Children offers a chilling twist on the killer kid trope, preying on parental anxieties. While the premise is simple, the execution is effective. The isolated setting and slow-burn tension create a truly unsettling experience. However, the lack of explanation for the children’s behavior may frustrate some viewers, but the scares are real and the ending will leave you pondering long after the credits roll.
• SciFiNow: “This is a well-executed, low-budget horror that delivers genuine scares. It cleverly exploits our cultural squeamishness about harming children, creating a deeply uncomfortable atmosphere. The cast are excellent, especially Hannah Tointon as the teenage Casey. Although the film could benefit from a bit more character development, and a more definite resolution, this is a disturbing and memorable addition to the killer kid subgenre.
• AllHorror.com: “The Children sets itself apart through its disturbing realism. The film focuses on the parents’ inability to accept that their children are homicidal. The film is effective because it leaves many questions unanswered. The movie is disturbing and will stay with the viewer after the credits roll. Not for everyone but certainly worth a look.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers were impressed by the film’s ability to create tension without relying on jump scares, favoring a slow-burn approach.: The film’s realistic portrayal of family dynamics and the parents’ initial disbelief made the horror more impactful for many viewers.

Fans were scared by the realism of the violence and the parents’ unwillingness to accept the truth.: Those who liked the movie were happy that they were not spoon-fed all of the information.

Overall Consensus: The Children is a polarizing British horror film that effectively utilizes the ‘evil children’ trope. It is notable for its tension and the parents’ inability to recognize the evil. Although there is praise, many thought the movie fell short by failing to define an ending and lacked definition of a cause.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film deliberately avoids explaining the exact cause of the children’s behavior, leaving it ambiguous whether it’s a virus, a supernatural event, or something else entirely.”
• “Director Tom Shankland aimed for a realistic portrayal of family dynamics, highlighting the parents’ initial denial and difficulty accepting their children’s actions.”
• “The film’s violence is often implied or shown off-screen, relying on tension and suspense rather than explicit gore.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Children?

As of October 2024, ‘The Children’ is available for purchase or rental on various digital platforms. Check Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu for rental or purchase options. Availability may vary depending on your region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Children, you might like these similar films:

• Village of the Damned (1960): Classic ‘evil children’ horror film with a similar premise of seemingly innocent children turning malevolent.
• The Brood (1979): Explores themes of parental anxiety and repressed rage manifesting in monstrous offspring.
• Eden Lake (2008): British horror film featuring a group of adults terrorized by a gang of delinquent youths in a remote location; shares similar themes of societal breakdown and primal fear.
• Good Manners (2017): Horror with emphasis on children with unusual behaviour, but with a supernatural layer.

🛒 The Children Related Products

• The Omen Collection [Blu-ray]: Relive the terror of Damien in this collection, a classic that explores similar themes of evil children and societal fear.
• Child’s Play (2019) [Blu-ray]: Experience the modern take on killer toys with the Child’s Play remake, featuring a technologically advanced and equally terrifying Chucky.
• Village of the Damned [Blu-ray]: Experience the terror that is a town full of emotionless children, similar to the characters in the Children.
• Pretend Play Doctor Kit for Kids: Explore this doctor set, as the evil comes from a disease, explore a collection of tools to study the disease.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Children features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Christmas Everybody” – performed by Eva Abraham & The Nat Franklin Trio

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Greatest One Shot in Movie History

Ever wonder how they pulled off those insane one-shot scenes in Children of Men? This video breaks down the impressive technical skill and artistic vision behind them – honestly, it’s mind-blowing how much work went into those shots!

✨ Rate