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The Children

  • 1980
  • R
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
Nathanael Albright and Sarah Albright in The Children (1980)
A nuclear-plant leak turns a bus-load of children into murderous atomic zombies with black fingernails.
Play trailer1:43
1 Video
92 Photos
HorrorSci-Fi

A nuclear-plant leak turns a bus-load of children into murderous atomic zombies with black fingernails.A nuclear-plant leak turns a bus-load of children into murderous atomic zombies with black fingernails.A nuclear-plant leak turns a bus-load of children into murderous atomic zombies with black fingernails.

  • Director
    • Max Kalmanowicz
  • Writers
    • Carlton J. Albright
    • Edward Terry
  • Stars
    • Martin Shakar
    • Gil Rogers
    • Gale Garnett
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.4/10
    3.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Max Kalmanowicz
    • Writers
      • Carlton J. Albright
      • Edward Terry
    • Stars
      • Martin Shakar
      • Gil Rogers
      • Gale Garnett
    • 96User reviews
    • 53Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:43
    Trailer

    Photos92

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    + 88
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    Top cast28

    Edit
    Martin Shakar
    Martin Shakar
    • John Freemont
    Gil Rogers
    Gil Rogers
    • Sheriff Billy Hart
    Gale Garnett
    Gale Garnett
    • Cathy Freemont
    Shannon Bolin
    Shannon Bolin
    • Molly
    Tracy Griswold
    Tracy Griswold
    • Deputy Harry Timmons
    Joy Glaccum
    Joy Glaccum
    • Suzie MacKenzie
    Jeptha Evans
    Jeptha Evans
    • Paul MacKenzie
    Clara Evans
    Clara Evans
    • Jenny Freemont
    Sarah Albright
    Sarah Albright
    • Ellen Chandler
    Nathanael Albright
    Nathanael Albright
    • Tommy Button
    Julie Carrier
    • Janet Shore
    Michelle La Mothe
    • Dr. Joyce Gould
    • (as Michelle LeMothe)
    Edward Terry
    Edward Terry
    • Hank
    Peter Maloney
    Peter Maloney
    • Frank
    Jessie Abrams
    • Clarkie Freemont
    Rita Montone
    Rita Montone
    • Dee Dee Shore
    John P. Codiglia
    • Jackson Lane
    • (as John Codiglia)
    Martin Brennan
    Martin Brennan
    • Sanford Butler-Jones
    • Director
      • Max Kalmanowicz
    • Writers
      • Carlton J. Albright
      • Edward Terry
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews96

    5.43.1K
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    Featured reviews

    moviecollector

    I got this in a used store for only $3

    On Monday, I checked out this used video/cd/video game store.

    wow! My jaw dropped in amazement on, when I saw this on the shelf...for only $3. I never got to see this as a kid, & it has been on my 'Must-see' list for a long time now. I have been trying to find it on Ebay as well.

    Well, I enjoyed it, its a good fun & cheesy movie. You weren't expecting an Oscar nominated movie were you? Yes, the acting is bad & yes, some of the dialogue is horrendous, but this was such a fun movie.

    It has its creepy moments & an alright 'twist' ending, that leaves it open for a sequel? hmmm.

    This is worth checking out or owning if you love those bad cheesy films from the 80's, like what I do. For finding a pretty rare & hard to get (go to Ebay & see how much this sells for) for only $3, you can not go wrong. :)
    lazarillo

    WHAT THE HELL?!?. . .

    This is one of those movies that is like an idiot step-child--it's totally moronic but still strangely hard to dislike. When so many horror movies are so transparently and unimaginatively exploitative, it's refreshing to see a movie so ludicrous and completely off-the-wall that god only knows WHAT it's trying to exploit. Is it trying to prey on every parent's fear that their lovable moppets will turn into radioactive zombies? Is it trying to make an environmental statement about how nuclear waste will turn children's fingernails black and make them kill every adult they touch? Is it trying to impress the gorehounds with its incredible special effects (i.e. dry ice and black fingernail polish)? Someone ought to put this movie, "The Carrier" (1987), and "The Pit" (1982)all on a single DVD compilation and call it "WHAT THE HELL?!..." or something like that. I'd definitely buy it.
    cutshaw-2

    they couldn't have made it any better if they tried

    I first saw this movie when I was a kid and it horrified me. A few decades have passed and I finally rewatched it and I was amazed. Here's a fun horror flick with instantly likeable characters and a

    very creepy story. As hardened of a horror fan as I am, even I was creeped out by some of the scenes in this flick (the kids smiling reflections in the window). Sure it's low budget, but that's what's

    great about it. And credit goes to the filmmakers for making a consistantly entertaining film, throwing logic to the wind and not explaining why the kid's hands must be cut off or why they are now indestructable. It just makes for a lot of great scenes (Chopping up kids!!! AMAZING!). Plus, they created tension very well. Hope they give this a special treatment on DVD one day.
    sarchangel168

    This is a cool and creepy old flick from way back.

    I saw this movie at the theatre when I was twelve years old and it scared the crap out of me. At the time I thought it was a cool movie but now if I saw it I'm sure it wouldn't hit me like that. I'm sure I would still like it though because I am very nostalgic about old horror movies which are my favorite genre of films. I would love to find this movie for sale so I could see it again. There was just something so creepy about this film. I mean it was foggy and those children just creeped me out.The location of the film is perfect as it was a creepy little wooded town in the middle of nowhere. If you don't mind B movies and you like horror a lot like me than this is definitely a movie you should check out.
    6jshuffield

    Beware the black fingernails of death....

    This B-grade horror flick has some surprising special effects, and a completely predictable twist ending. When a school bus drives into the fog from a nuclear plant leak, the children inside are transformed into black-fingernailed zombies that incinerate anyone they touch, apparently from the inside-out. My fondness for this movie probably stems from the circumstances in which I saw it--I was 12 or 13, alone in front of the TV at my sister's house at around 2 AM,watching a "rated R movie(!)" I had been expressly forbidden to see. I'm not sure whether I was more afraid of the movie or an adult catching me, but either way, it was good fun. I'm looking forward to the day this one is finally released on DVD.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Co-writer / producer Carlton J. Albright struck several deals in the course of making this film. One involved giving to the favored charity of the cemetery caretakers in order to use the cemetery seen in the film. Another involved hiring a local girl as a production assistant so her father would agree to the use of his house.
    • Goofs
      When the Sheriff first comes upon the school bus, it's parked across from the cemetery. When the sheriff returns with Tommy's mother, it's now parked next to the cemetery.
    • Quotes

      Dr. Joyce Gould: I just don't know how Leslie's gonna take it when I tell her Tommy's missing.

      Sheriff Billy Hart: Don't tell her.

      Dr. Joyce Gould: ...That's one way to deal with it...

    • Alternate versions
      The Vinegar Syndrome home video release, as well as streaming releases, feature an additional scene set in a diner in which the sheriff speaks to a waitress.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: On Golden Pond, Whose Life Is It Anyway?, Four Friends, Modern Problems (1982)

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    FAQ17

    • How long is The Children?Powered by Alexa
    • Why does the soundtrack for this film sound so similar to the soundtrack from Friday the 13th?
    • Why is The Children so scratchy? There are little black lines and dots all over the place!
    • Was The Children referencing other films, or was it ever referenced in newer films?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 13, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Kinder des Todes
    • Filming locations
      • Aston Magna House, Great Barrington, Massachusetts, USA(The Shore family home)
    • Production company
      • Albright Films Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $400,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 33m(93 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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