Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things

Watch Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things

"You're Invited To Orville's "Coming-Out" Party...It'll Be A Scream...YOURS!!!"
  • PG
  • 1972
  • 1 hr 27 min
  • 5.3  (4,972)
  • 47

In 1972, director Bob Clark and writer Alan Ormsby set out to make a horror movie that was different than anything audiences had seen before. The result was Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things, a low-budget indie flick that has since become a cult classic. The film follows a group of aspiring actors led by Alan (played by Ormsby) who decide to perform a satanic ritual on a remote island cemetery for kicks. They dig up a corpse and bring it back to their cottage, where they proceed to mock the deceased and perform their ritual.

But things quickly take a turn for the worse when the corpse seemingly comes back to life, and the group finds themselves fighting for survival against a horde of undead creatures. As the night wears on, the line between reality and fantasy blurs, and the group realizes that they may have unleashed something truly evil.

Despite its low budget and amateur cast, Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things manages to succeed on many fronts. The film's eerie, atmospheric setting and creepy use of lighting contribute to a sense of dread that builds throughout the movie. Meanwhile, the performances of the actors (especially Ormsby) are surprisingly effective, toeing the line between campy and genuinely unsettling.

One of the film's standout sequences involves the group performing the satanic ritual in the cemetery. As they chant and dance around a grave, the tension builds as they realize they may have gone too far. And when the corpse unexpectedly rises from its grave, the group is thrown into chaos as they scramble to find a way to escape.

The film's climax is a gruesome, blood-soaked affair that will satisfy horror fans looking for classic zombie action. The filmmakers' DIY spirit is on full display here as they use everything from raw meat to oatmeal to create the film's gory effects.

But what makes Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things truly memorable is its offbeat, quirky sense of humor. The film's characters are all self-absorbed and snarky, making them both unlikable and strangely endearing. And the script delights in subverting horror movie cliches, such as having the final girl be a clueless, fashion-obsessed character who can't seem to grasp the gravity of the situation.

At its core, Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things is a love letter to horror movies themselves. It's a film made by horror fans, for horror fans, and it wears its influences on its sleeve. From the classic zombie films of George A. Romero to the Hammer horror movies of the 1960s, Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things pays homage to the genre's past while also blazing its own unique path.

In the years since its release, Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things has gained a devoted following among horror fans. Despite its relatively obscure status, the film's influence can be felt in countless other horror movies that have followed in its wake.

Overall, Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things is a strange, unsettling, and highly entertaining horror movie that deserves more recognition than it gets. If you're a horror fan looking for something offbeat and unpredictable, give this cult classic a watch.

Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things is a 1972 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3 and a MetaScore of 47.

Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things
Description
Where to Watch Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things
Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things is available to watch free on Plex. It's also available to stream, download and buy on demand at Amazon Prime, FlixFling and Amazon. Some platforms allow you to rent Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    1972
  • MPAA Rating
    PG
  • Runtime
    1 hr 27 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    5.3  (4,972)
  • Metascore
    47