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Beware: Children at Play

  • 1989
  • R
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
4.3/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
Brett Ambler in Beware: Children at Play (1989)
Dark ComedyFolk HorrorComedyCrimeHorrorThriller

A mentally-disturbed teenager kidnaps and brainwashes children into cannibalistic psychopaths - but not when the adults intervene.A mentally-disturbed teenager kidnaps and brainwashes children into cannibalistic psychopaths - but not when the adults intervene.A mentally-disturbed teenager kidnaps and brainwashes children into cannibalistic psychopaths - but not when the adults intervene.

  • Director
    • Mik Cribben
  • Writer
    • Fred Scharkey
  • Stars
    • Michael Robertson
    • Rich Hamilton
    • Robin Lilly
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.3/10
    1.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mik Cribben
    • Writer
      • Fred Scharkey
    • Stars
      • Michael Robertson
      • Rich Hamilton
      • Robin Lilly
    • 45User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Beware! Children at Play
    Trailer 1:36
    Beware! Children at Play

    Photos24

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    Top cast82

    Edit
    Michael Robertson
    Michael Robertson
    • John DeWolfe
    Rich Hamilton
    • Sheriff Ross Carr
    Robin Lilly
    • Cleo Carr
    Lori Romero
    • Julia DeWolfe
    • (as Lori Tirgrath)
    Jamie Krause
    • Kara DeWolfe
    Sunshine Barrett
    • Mary Rose Carr
    Mark Diekman
    • Luke Domain
    Mik Cribben
    • Farmer Isac Braun
    Susann Chandler
    • Mrs. Mary Braun
    Herb Klinger
    • Franklin Ludwig
    Lauren Cloud
    • Dale Hawthorn
    Lorna Courtney
    • Amy Carr…
    Danny McClaughlin
    • Grendel…
    Stephanie Jaworski
    • Alice Allegari
    Lee Kayman
    • Josiah Modicah
    Bernard Hocke
    Bernard Hocke
    • Professor Randall
    Eric Tonken
    • Young Glenn Randall
    Rick Bitzelberger
    • Dr. Fish
    • Director
      • Mik Cribben
    • Writer
      • Fred Scharkey
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews45

    4.31.5K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    ICP

    Wonderful Movie....

    The movie starts out with a boy and his father camping in the woods. The father gets caught in a trap, they cannot get help, and the boy ends up showing his cannibalistic tastes by attacking his father. As the boy grows he kidnaps children and they form a type-of cannibal cult. And then... well just watch. The film has some great (cheesy) special effects. And the end will definitely make you love this movie. Trust me, if you think the beginning is boring, just sit in till the end.
    getupkid

    The greatest ending ever...

    Oh my goodness! This movie puts any ending to any other movie to shame. It was slow at first, I admit it. But that ending just made everything worth it. What beats a bunch of rednecks killing a bunch of young children. "Beware Children At Play"? More like "Beware Rednecks With Deadly Weapons At Play"! Rock on! I love this movie.
    JadedAngel00

    I don't know what ya'll are talking about, but I hated this movie!

    Me and my 15-year-old cousin recently watched this movie. Lately we'd been really into horror/slasher films. We rented some movies and saved this video until last. (We had read the warning label on the front and got really excited.) We should of known by the first 20 minutes of the film that it was going to be boring. Sure, we are just 2 teenagers, right? Well we still think that this movie isn't recomended for ANY age. It was awful! I'd give it * out of *****
    jrockey

    Delightfully horrible!

    I had never seen a Troma film before this. I had no idea what to expect. My best friend recommended it, so the two of us and another friend rented it one night and watched it. The results were as follows: My best friend and I laughed the entire time. My other friend became violent. Don't worry, he didn't hurt anyone. The bottom line is, this is NOT a horror movie! The creators may have attempted to make a horror movie, but what they made was a hilarious comedy! The actors in this movie are absolutely horrible! Click on any of their bios, very few of them have been in over three or four movies! THERE'S A REASON FOR THIS!!!!!!! But you know what? They're all trying really hard to do a good job, and I'm certain that they thought that they were making Hollywood gold. Now let's look at other aspects of production. I have a feeling that this is what Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom were looking for when they found "Springtime for Hitler" in "The Producers"! There is no aspect of this movie that is particularly good, which makes everything GREAT! Especially if you are a theatre student, like me. I refer to such cinematic techniques as introducing a character (A psychic medium in this instance) and NEVER closing up on her face! I refer to a man who is getting a crowd incensed, but they never respond with more than a dull "EERRRRR". I refer to a monologue by a Bible salesman (And won't most people in a religious community ALREADY own a Bible?) where in the middle of the monologue the shot changes to a Speed Limit sign for no apparent reason. Then there's the end of the film. I won't give it away, but you have GOT to stomach this movie to see the ending! It's worth it! Trust me!!!!!!
    3Flak_Magnet

    90-seconds of hilarity, 60+ min of tedium

    This movie is a total bait and switch. I went into it having some positive expectations, namely, that I'd see a lot of grade school kids murdering their parents in a series of bloodsoaked rituals. However, this kind of stuff never really happens and it isn't until the FINAL 90-SECONDS that the director pulls out the stops, providing us with a hilariously bad "massacre" scene that had my brother and I rolling. The rest of this movie, however, is entirely forgettable and I can't recommend it. That final 90-seconds is awesome, yes, but you have to sit through a lot of boring crap and listen to a lot of bad writing to get there. If you just have to see the funny clip at the end where the kids all get killed, I'd search the web versus wasting a rental slot. Trust me, this movie sucks. A lot. ---|--- Reviews by Flak Magnet

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    Related interests

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Florence Pugh in Midsommar (2019)
    Folk Horror
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
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    Horror
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    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The director of the film stars as Farmer Isac Braun.
    • Goofs
      At the end of the movie when the kids are getting killed a man shoots an arrow at a boy. You can see the guiding wire that the arrow is attached to.
    • Quotes

      John DeWolfe: You forgive grumpy old Daddy Bear, honey?

      Kara DeWolfe: You'll buy me a Barbie doll?

      John DeWolfe: Barbie's not a doll, Barbie is an addiction! You know what Barbie leads to? Barbie hats, Barbie dresses, Barbie houses, oh, Barbie Kotex! Once Barbie gets you, you're gone!

    • Crazy credits
      Top-billed actor Michael Robertson is billed as 'Michael Robinson' in the opening credits.
    • Alternate versions
      An unrated video release was made which features brutal and graphic murders of small children not seen in the R Rated version.
    • Connections
      Featured in Drive In (2000)

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 24, 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Troma
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Goblins
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • Troma Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 34m(94 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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