Child's Play

'Hammer House of Mystery' was one of my favorite TV series (British). And this episode stands out as one of the best, as well as the creepiest. see the entire series if u can, and DON'T miss this one. Actually, there is a pretty basic existential question at the heart of this film, but it is rarely handled with such precision or finesse.

A made-for-TV movie that is simply better than 95% of fantasy and horror works we can see in movie theaters.The story progresses slowly but inexorably and fear never leaves the viewer.It might have had a big influence on "cube" and it might possibly be better,because it deals with every day life and features an ending you'll never guess!Close to the fifties great works such as "the incredible shrinking man" ,"child's play " is absolutely brilliant.

And at a time when "unexpected ends" often come at the most awkward moment,this ending will leave you on the edge of your seat.At once simple and terrifying.

I am just revisiting the whole of the hammer series and I have got to say this really is top notch! It grabs your attention straight away and is miles better than any of the Hollywood junk being churned out today.

When I watched Child's Play I thought it had a Twilight Zone type feel to it. The ending looked very familiar, now it might because I would had watched this episode back in 1984 or 85.

It turns out that the story was based on the Twilight Zone episode 'Six Characters in Search of an Exit.'

The Preston family wake up to discover that their house is walled in. There is no escape. The house is getting warmer and there is gunge in one of the rooms.

They are trapped, with no way to break out. Time is stuck and there is this corporate logo everywhere.

It is an episode where it all makes sense at the end. The title of the story is an obvious clue.

The big problem is that the story was too long and too cheesy. It would have worked more effectively in the shorter format.

"Child's Play" is indisputably the best installment of the overall - do I daresay it - disappointing "Hammer House of Mystery & Suspense" series. It's tense, claustrophobic, compelling, and uncanny. It's also original and unpredictable unless you are familiar with the early 60s hit series "The Twilight Zone" and one dazzling episode of the third season. Around 1/3 into this short film, I began wondering where I had seen the same set-up and storyline before. It was in the marvelous episode entitled "Five Characters in Search of an Exit". Here, it's three people, a married couple and their 7-year-old daughter, who are trapped inside their own house with a wall of seemingly indestructible concrete blocking every possible exit. While the temperature is increasing and the oxygen levels are decreasing, there's also a nasty type of goo sipping in via the chimney. If you haven't seen the aforementioned "Twilight Zone" episode, it's absolutely impossible to predict the outcome, and you are in for a genuine surprise-ending. Should you have seen it, "Child's Play" is still a very gripping tale, professionally directed by Hammer veteran Val Guest and featuring strong performances of Mary Crosby and Nicholas Clay.