When it comes to horror, creepy children make for a great storyline. While this trope can be overused, if it’s done right, it’s undeniably effective. With that in mind, I’m pleased to be singing the praises of There’s Something Wrong with the Children. The film follows two couples as they embark on a weekend trip to catch up. Margaret (Alisha Wainwright) and Ben (Zach Gilford) join their married friends Ellie (Amanda Crew) and Thomas (Carlos Santos), and the latter’s two children, Spencer (David Mattle) and Lucy (Briella Guiza).
Things are off to a fine start, as the two couples and the children go for a hike in the woods. As expected, the story takes a turn when they stumble upon the crumbed ruins of a building. Once inside, the kids quickly discover a mysterious and seemingly bottomless pit in the ground. Mesmerized, the children are practically pulled away by the adults, and the group returns to their cabins together.
From there, the situation slowly deteriorates after Margaret and Ben watch the kids overnight. While in their care, the children disappear into the woods. Although they return the next morning, they are clearly behaving differently.
Things escalate as Ben is the only adult who notices that something is not right. His warnings to the others are brushed off. As the story progresses, Ben and Margaret, who initially appear as a more carefree, strong couple, struggle to see eye to eye. As we see their relationship enter a rocky zone, Ellie and Thomas appear to become stronger as a couple in the face of threats to their children’s well being.
This film has a strong theme focused on relationships and all the facets therein. One of the running topics is the choice to have children. We see this within Margaret and Ben’s relationship, as they are on different pages. The film is brimming with resentment, secrets, and tension that all come to a boil in later scenes.
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The strong elements for me are the acting and visuals. The whole cast is solid but I found the performances from Gilford and Wainwright the most effective. It’s an atmospheric movie with a modern, yet nostalgic vibe thanks to the soundtrack, lighting, and setting.
What was lacking was some of the character development. I wanted more on their background and felt like viewers were dropped into their weekend, trying to catch up on who they were and what made them tick without adequate time. I also found the dialogue to be a bit sleepy at times, as if I joined one too many campfire chats with these couples.
While it doesn’t stand out as a headliner among other films in this sub genre, There’s Something Wrong with the Children is an entertaining watch. The more unsettling scenes make up for some of the lulls in the action, and it’s wrapped up nicely with a haunting ending.
There’s Something Wrong with the Children is available on Digital and On Demand now and is coming to MGM+ on March 17.
WICKED RATING: 7/10
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