The storyline to Who Can Kill a Child? lies in its title. The opening few minutes gives us a refresher on how awful history, with its war, tyranny, and famine has been to the world's kids. And then it gives us an answer to the question by creating a scenario that is so nightmarish, it's hard to fathom.
Our two principals, on vacation on the coast of Spain, take a trip to a small island that isn't even on a map, 4 hours off the coast. Once on the island, they've seen the villagers have disappeared, but the kids are everywhere, running...
and giggling.
One can see how Stephen King may have seen this 1975 film before laying pen to paper on Children of the Corn. Cinematically, killing kids has been an unwritten no-no, pretty much broken only by a handful of filmmakers. But what if they're the antagonists, the murderers? This is a Spanish production revived by Dark Sky video about 12 years ago, and given a big mention by Eli Roth on his History of Horror series, Season 2. I'm sure he feels it needs reappraisal, as it is dark, creepy, and effective.
In the past we've seen The Bad Seed, The Exorcist, The Children, The Omen, et al, but this feels realistic in its visuals and its set up. Something unnatural is spawning this event, but what it is, is not clear. It's not sociopathy, the devil, chemicals, or he who walks behind the rows, but folks, it ain't right.
Recommended, and as I always suggest, the original Spanish with subtitles.
No comments:
Post a Comment