Spooky Kids Horror Movie Marathon
aka the most effective form of birth control on the planet
1. The Devil's Backbone (Guillermo Del Toro, 2001)
Del Toro's film has everything a horror movie needs: creepy dilapidated orphanages, ghost-boys with bullet holes in their heads, and fetuses in jars. Put 'em all together, and you have an incredible horror movie that turns the "evil kid" trope on its head.
2. Who Can Kill a Child? (Ibanez Serrador, 1976)
Who Can Kill a Child? centers on a group of English tourists that, upon arriving on a resort island, discover that all the island children are killing the adults. This 1976 gem is often forgotten about, but is perfect to bring back for a spooky kid marathon.
3. The Omen (Donner, 1976)
An irrefutable classic, the original The Omen still manages to make grown men and women wary of ever procreating. The film focuses on a diplomat (Gregory Peck) who slowly realizes that his son might be the spawn of Satan after mysterious (and fatal) accidents begin to occurs around him.
4. The Innocents (Clayton, 1961)
This film is often overlooked in the horror genre, which is a complete shame for horror fans and film junkies alike. Based on Henry James's The Turning of the Screw, The Innocents follows a young governess (Deborah Kerr) who, upon arriving at a country estate to look after two orphaned children, begins to suspect that her charges are possessed. With a screenplay co-written by Truman Capote, The Innocents delivers on all fronts.
5. The Exorcist (Friedkin, 1973)
Another horror classic that still manages to terrify its viewers 40 years after its release. The film tells the story of an actress (Ellen Burstyn) who must watch as her young daughter becomes posessed and tortured by the Devil himself. Anyone who's seen the infamous spider-walk or pea soup scenes knows that this film is not for the faint-hearted. Nightmares guaranteed.
6. The Orphanage (Bayona, 2007)
The Orphanage ends this marathon on a slightly more delicate note. Produced by Guillermo Del Toro, Bayona's film tells the tale of a young couple who decide to take over the orphanage where the wife grew up, only to find that a childlike ghost won't let them live in peace. When the couple's son disappears, Laura, his mother, becomes absorbed further and further into the orphanage's past, ultimately revealing a huge and heart-breaking reality. Not only will this film make you jump, it will have you tearing up by its emotional, heartfelt conclusion.