We've all seen them, right? We're at the supermarket, trying to shop in peace when we stroll down the cereal aisle and see that frustrated mom in ratty sweats, frazzled hair pulled back into something resembling a ponytail. Exhaustion is etched into her skin like tribal markings and the look in her eye suggests sanity is merely one of her past lovers. A few feet from her is Little Johnny, her pride and joy. Above the din of our fellow shoppers we hear his soul-piercing shriek of death because his mother did the one thing he could not imagine her doing. She said no. This edition of Thursday Movie Picks, hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves, is dedicated to all the Little Johnnies out there. It's all about villainous children.
Sleepaway Camp
Villainous Child: Angela Baker
(1983)
One day, someone had an idea for a movie. They said 'let's rip off Friday the 13th (itself a rip-off) and give it an even more bizarre twist. With that they made Sleepaway Camp. The particulars are that Angela, who has been living with her aunt ever since her parents were killed in a boating accident, is sent to summer camp. Soon enough, people there start getting killed...one by one. It's pretty standard slasher fare. Well, it's standard until we get to that twist, one of the most famous in cinematic history. And I still won't spoil it, here.
Pet Sematary
Villainous Child: Gage Creed
(1989)
There's a place in Maine that seems to be full of magic. It's a very dark magic, but magic nonetheless. It's a cemetery where people have buried their pets and had them come back to life. Sounds great for those that weren't ready to lose a beloved animal. When the Creed family loses their very young son, they bury him up there. Let's just say he's not the same kid when he comes back.
The Good Son
Villainous Child: Henry Evans
(1993)
Most of you know that Macaulay Culkin is the cute kid from the Home Alone movies, the first two, at least. Culkin's dad wanted him to start taking more serious roles. I've no clue why, the dude hadn't even hit puberty, yet. Anyhoo, the result is this critically panned piece so bad it's awesome craptacularity, Culkin plays a young boy who terrorizes everyone, but no one knows he's responsible except his cousin who is the same age. The cousin is played by a very young Elijah Wood.
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Wow! You picked Pat Sematary, which is kinda creepy (though it's always hilarious all the time). Also, we have something in common, The Good Son---which traumatized me when I was a kid (cause I was a fan of Macaulay Culkin from Home Alone), and the finale was, something I wouldn't expect at all.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I need to rewatch The Good Son because I am having trouble remembering the finale.
DeleteYeah, Macaulay as the bad kid. I thought it was an OK film. Just because I wanted to see Kevin McCallister kill people.
ReplyDeleteLol, that's a good a reason as any.
DeleteNice picks, none of which I have actually seen though. Am interested in seeing what that twist is in Sleepaway Camp. Perhaps I can include in my 31 Days of Horror.
ReplyDeleteI would love if you did that! It's a doozy.
DeleteThe Good Son is a guilty pleasure of mine. Even though the ending is so bizarre and out there, I think I actually have this on DVD. I love the other two. Sleepaway Camp is hysterical, I don't care what anyone says.
ReplyDeleteYou're the second person to mention the ending of The Good Son. I thought I had pretty good recall about it, but now I see I have to watch it again.
DeleteI can't even remember the ending. But he did make a good evil-ish kid.
DeleteYeah, I have to fire this one up one night.
DeleteSleepaway Camp is all kinds of strange! I haven't got round to seeing the sequel yet but I'm sure it'll be just as nuts! It's definitely a shocking twist though!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I think I saw at least the first sequel, but can't say for sure. I'll never forget the original, though.
DeleteLOL at the inclusion of Sleepaway Camp, which I only know by reputation. I actually haven't seen any of these, but that would be the only one I'm interested in.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear what you think of it once you've actually seen it. Do it!
DeleteAll good choices for the theme. I hated Pet Sematary but that kid was frightening. The Good Son seemed to want to be The Bad Seed with a gender reversal but couldn't quite make it and Culkin didn't do much for me in the lead. I haven't seen Sleepaway Camp.
ReplyDeleteYou know I'm not much of a horror fan so I went with more suspense oriented films and a drama with a child who is very much like those odious brats in the market.
The Other (1972)-Eerie chiller about identical twins Niles and Holland Perry and a string of "accidents" that befall their family tied to a game they play. Can the game be stopped? Filled with moody dread and excellent acting from the entire cast.
The Children's Hour (1961)-Two young women friends, Karen and Martha (Audrey Hepburn & Shirley MacLaine), run an elite girl’s school with the assistance of Martha’s aunt. One of the girls is a vicious, cruel bully who when she is disciplined for tormenting the other children spreads a lie that ultimately devastates the lives of all involved. Based on a Lillian Hellman play that was considered scandalous in its day. Miriam Hopkins who plays the selfish aunt in this starred in the original watered down, but still good, film version in the 30’s called These Three in the role Shirley MacLaine plays here.
The Innocents (1961)-Deborah Kerr stars as a governess in Victorian England who becomes convinced that the unnerving children in her charge are possessed by evil spirits and sets out to help them. Superb rendition of Henry James's novella The Turn of the Screw with a brilliant, award worthy performance by Kerr.
Haven't seen any of these, but I'm really interested in The Other. Thanks.
DeleteI have not seen any of these and Culkin was always a kid I wanted to spank. The first film sounds like the typical slasher film and I figure it's the girl. Pet Sematary is one I should watch but I freak easily
ReplyDeleteCulkin had that effect on lots of people. Sleepaway Camp is mostly typical slasher fare. But that's not the twist. I still recommend Pet Sematary, but if you "freak easily," skipping it might be a good idea.
DeleteWell...I need to watch more creepy kid movies. I've seen, like, one pick so far out of...ALL OF THEM!
ReplyDeleteWow. There's tons of them out there.
DeleteThere needs to be a 'whisper it to me' feature so I can hear the twist!
ReplyDeleteThat would be cool. I will say it's pretty easy to find out what it is online.
DeleteHmph now you have me wanting to watch Pet Sematary again! Nice post mate
ReplyDeleteIt's good stuff!
DeleteNot seen any of the three but do seem very solid choices.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteVillainous children in movies, I think of The Omen (1976) and Village of the Damned (1960). I see you went with less obvious choices, which is interesting. I've watched Pet Semetary-think I prefer other Stephen King movies.
ReplyDeletePet Sematary is certainly not the best Stephen King adaptation out there, but it is a good one.
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