It’s hard to do horror well but making kids the bad guys helps because killer kids are inherently creepy.  And a willingness to follow through with the logical consequences of having a bunch of psycho kids on your hands helps this movie rise to the level of effective and genuinely scary horror. 

I’m not easily scared but I think the average joe would be legitimately freaked out by this movie and those of us who aren’t quite so susceptible to frightening suggestions will still feel stressed and excited enough to enjoy the ride.

Oftentimes with horror movies we yell at the screen, wishing the characters would wise up and realize what it going on.  Wishing they would act intelligently and not be so oblivious and stupid.  Well, in The Children I’m happy to report the characters act pretty much as I think real people would.  All the characters have differing reactions but they are all valid and believable.  And there’s even a little message to glean about childhood, adolescence and adulthood.  Good stuff.  Good times.  Rock on.

[rating:40]