Growing Pains

After the unexplained death of their son Terence and Laurie Morton adopt a boy called James . James is a strange boy , very withdrawn and unexplained occurrences start happening

This is a very obvious reworking of THE OMEN where new found surrogate parents start suffering all sorts of unfortunate events that escalate . I found THE OMEN a very enjoyable and atmospheric horror movie so despite being somewhat formulaic this type of story isn't necessarily a bad one . The problem with this episode - and it's a big one - is what has cropped up from nearly all the comments on this page and that is it suffers from really dreadful acting

First of all the cast all talk in pronounced posh middle class accents that make the Queen and her brood sound like chav scum in comparison . It's the sort of accents you rarely hear outside of film and television and draws your attention that you are watching a film or television show . Barabara Kellerman was a relative prolific actress at this time and almost always played the same type of whiny girly character and over acts in a scene where she can't gain control of a steering wheel in a car . This over acting is magnified by the opposite effect of her fellow cast member Matthew Blakstad as James who being a passenger in a car veering wildly out of control doesn't literally blink an eyelid . No matter what happens to James he goes through the entire episode with an entirely gormless inexpressive expression on his face

If there's one saving grace to the episode the opening pre title sequence contains a Hammer trade mark and that is obvious day for night filming . This involves sticking a dark lens over the camera dimming he amount of light seen . It was never that convincing but did become a traditional aspect of British horror film making , but that's hardly a reason to seek out this episode of the show

Soon after the death of their son, Scientist Terrence Morton and his busy wife Laurie adopt James from a children's. From the very moment that James enters their lives, all manner of accidents and mishaps begin.

Unfortunately, this is one of the weakest entries, it is surely one of the least memorable. It actually has some fine ideas, the thought of a scientist trying to cultivate a protein rich plant, to feed a planet is a good concept.

The main issue I had here, the characters, at no point do any of them seem realistic, they're all caricatures, even during the shocking conclusion, they all just behave in the most bizarre fashion.

There is a certain amount of atmosphere, and there are one or two decent scenes, that sequence in the car was a good one, and instantly tells us that something is up with James, but sadly it doesn't amount to much.

The scene with poor Nipper, as he goes on a doggy attack is absolutely hilarious, it's like something from a Carry on film, with the 'savage' Rotty joining in the jaunt up the garden path.

Matthew Blackstad does a decent job here, making James a little odd, a little creepy, he certainly needles his new parents, but let's get honest, he's no Damian.

Some of the acting is a little below par, there are some very experienced actors here, at times it doesn't show.

5/10.

After the death of their son William Morton (Christopher Reilly), the diplomat Laurie Morton (Barbara Kellerman) and her husband, the scientist Terence Morton (Gary Bond) adopt a boy, James (Matthew Blakstadt). From the moment James moves to Morton's house in the country on, weird things happen with the family.

"Growing Pains" is a scary tale of Hammer House of Horror, and in many moments I felt nervous with the happenings in the house. Unfortunately, I found the conclusion very disappointing for such a good story. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Dor Intensa" ("Intense Pain")

Note: On 02 Aug 2020, I saw this film again.

Barbara Kellerman ("The Monster Club") and Gary Bond ("Wake in Fright") play Laurie & Terence Morton, a diplomat & scientist (he's determinedly trying to solve the problem of world hunger). They lose their son William (Christopher Reilly, 'The Story of the Treasure Seekers') under tragic but bizarre circumstances. They end up adopting another son, James (Matthew Blakstad, "Young Sherlock Holmes"), who has an uncanny ability to sense when people or things are unhappy.

James starts out subtly creepy, and his character keeps getting creepier, in this so-so episode, which is absolutely no great shakes in the entire "evil kid(s)" horror sub-genre. The acting isn't so hot (especially from the child actors), and the horror content pretty mild, even though we have some amusingly gross moments and a formerly docile dog who starts getting bloodthirsty.

More political than other 'Hammer House of Horror' episodes, this still doesn't add up to much, and *is* a comedown from the first three that were aired. Even the ending lacks real punch.

Five out of 10.

ooooooooooh this is one with bad acting. For me only the child gives a good performance. The story is okay but also the editing and sonorisation could have been done much better. Watch the part with barking dog. You see that the dog doesn't bark but you hear him bark. And he bites, but hey, they are pulling the dog away but even that is bad edited. It isn't that bloody or scary. Even the beginning of the episode is sadly acted by another child. He's dying but what the hell, he's choking, no no he's doing the Sint Vitus dance, in fact it's so bad that they explain what is going on. Anyhow, it has been aired as number 4 in the series, just enjoy it as it is....