Narciso Ibáñez Serrador's "Who Could Kill A Child?" is an exceptional horror pic that has finally been released uncut; I was quietly blown away by Dark Sky Films' DVD of this Spanish classic.
The opening prologue, excised from most non-theatrical versions, features montages of children in concentration camps and third world hellholes, and establishes a very grim tone. Two travelers, Tom and the pregnant Evelyn (Lewis Fiander and Prunella Ransome) head to an island where they plan to spend two weeks relaxing. They encounter dozens of strange children and feel increasingly uneasy about the absence of adults. When a young girl beats an old man to death with a stick, the murderous intent of the children is revealed. Because nobody is keen to kill a child, the children have been able to wipe out most of the adults on the island. When Tom shoots a young boy who is threatening Evelyn (one of the film's most chilling scenes), the playing field is re-set.
For mine, this is a perfect horror film. It betrays expectations and finds terror in stark sunlight. Serrador's direction builds dread and suspense with both suggestion and graphic presentation. Although this is not a fast-paced film, its pacing allows the horror to grow and fester. Many of the children are highly unusual in appearance, and some are threateningly angelic, but never does Serrador resort to sentimentalizing the moppets or focusing on anything "cute". The violence towards children and by children is surprisingly explicit. A story thread involving Evelyn's unborn child is gruesomely developed.
"Who Could Kill A Child?", which was photographed by the great José Luis Alcaine ("Volver", "Tie Me Up Tie Me Down!") in a style that does not telegraph the terror, is old school horror that possesses a dash of magic realism and a hint of "Night of the Living Dead", It is a masterpiece of creeping terror and surely inspired Stephen King's "Children of the Corn" short story (from "Nightshift") and a rash of similar-themed works.
The opening prologue, excised from most non-theatrical versions, features montages of children in concentration camps and third world hellholes, and establishes a very grim tone. Two travelers, Tom and the pregnant Evelyn (Lewis Fiander and Prunella Ransome) head to an island where they plan to spend two weeks relaxing. They encounter dozens of strange children and feel increasingly uneasy about the absence of adults. When a young girl beats an old man to death with a stick, the murderous intent of the children is revealed. Because nobody is keen to kill a child, the children have been able to wipe out most of the adults on the island. When Tom shoots a young boy who is threatening Evelyn (one of the film's most chilling scenes), the playing field is re-set.
For mine, this is a perfect horror film. It betrays expectations and finds terror in stark sunlight. Serrador's direction builds dread and suspense with both suggestion and graphic presentation. Although this is not a fast-paced film, its pacing allows the horror to grow and fester. Many of the children are highly unusual in appearance, and some are threateningly angelic, but never does Serrador resort to sentimentalizing the moppets or focusing on anything "cute". The violence towards children and by children is surprisingly explicit. A story thread involving Evelyn's unborn child is gruesomely developed.
"Who Could Kill A Child?", which was photographed by the great José Luis Alcaine ("Volver", "Tie Me Up Tie Me Down!") in a style that does not telegraph the terror, is old school horror that possesses a dash of magic realism and a hint of "Night of the Living Dead", It is a masterpiece of creeping terror and surely inspired Stephen King's "Children of the Corn" short story (from "Nightshift") and a rash of similar-themed works.