Synopsis: A nuclear plant leak turns a bus load of children into murderous atomic zombies with black fingernails.
Continuing with the “creepy children” plot device, The Children opens up at a nuclear power plant in the town of Ravensback. Two inept workers, anxious to leave for the day, decide not to check for issues which in turn causes a leak of toxic gas to escape. At the same time, a busload of school children headed home quickly get engulfed by the noxious cloud. Sheriff Billy Hart (Gil Rogers) happens upon the abandoned bus near the local cemetery, blocking the road and still running with no sign of the children or driver. Little does he know that the children are now slow-moving, black fingernailed little zombies that microwave their victims with the slightest touch.
This is the first I’ve ever heard of this film and I’m kind of upset it took me 43 years to find it. This flick has everything I want in my campy 80’s horror. Inspired by the 3-Mile Island incident, this movie takes the zombie narrative and adds the creepiness of dead-eyed zombie children (denoted by the black fingernails) giving it a unique twist. It was made the same year as Friday the 13th utilizing the same composer, so the score sounds similar and gives an odd sense of familiarity while the horror bordering goofiness plays out on the screen. I mean, where else but in this era of film can you see a small-town sheriff wielding a samurai sword and having the sound of cats in heat as the death knells of the children?
The acting adds to the campiness with performances from the adult cast leaving you wondering if they’re actually playing it straight or in on the gag as well. There’s a scene midway through, where the town is cut off from outsiders and an obnoxious ass of a man attempts to bully his way through the blockade in his limo. It’s a cringe-worthy scene that left me laughing. Made even better when I read that the actor in question, Martin Brennan was reportedly a drug dealer who was selling cocaine to the cast and crew during production. Got to love Hollywood adjacent production in the Grindhouse era of film.
All in all, the cinematography was good for what it was, the practical effects worked well and the story, even though it was ridiculous, is enough to keep you thoroughly entertained. The rewatchability is pretty high on this one for me. There is actually a remastered cut on DVD that Troma put out back in 2006. I might have to track that down to add to the collection. You can find The Children streaming on Tubi as of this writing.
Join me again tomorrow as we close out the month of this strange little trip down the horror rabbit hole.