A group of children become a new breed of zombie in this cult classic. 

In a small town, there is a chemical plant and after the final two workers leave for the day, a backup in pressures causes a pipe to burst. The burst causes a yellow toxic gas that begins to aerate part of town. When five young kids in a bus are heading home from school, the bus comes across the gas. When reports of the kids not coming home hit Sheriff Billy Hart, he sends his deputy Harry Timmons to investigate. When Harry finds the bus, no one is inside.

The children soon return to town. However, they are pale-faced and sport black fingernails. When they hug people, the people they hug begin to incinerate and are killed instantly. The news sends shockwaves as both Billy and local doctor John Freemont make the shocking discovery. To make matters worse, John’s daughter Jenny has become a zombie as well. Can “the children” be stopped or will it be too late?

Children and horror can be quite a deadly combination. Some of the earliest examples would include Village of the Damned in the 1960s and Devil Times Five or Peopletoys in the 1970s. Around the time Bloody Birthday was released comes this film, where the children are homicidal maniacs, but one caused by environment rather than by birthright. 

The film is ultimately a mixed bag. The death scenes are quite intriguing as it relies on dissolves mixed in with hokey special effects that make the victims look more like mummified with cuts and abrasions rather than charred. But it’s 1980 so it’s forgivable. Some of the deaths are pretty predictable but there are some that are unexpected and in the case of one, pretty shocking. 

The acting starts off pretty grounded but as the film progresses, it does delve a bit over-the-top towards the end. This especially comes when Gil Rogers’ Billy tries to find a weakness to stop the zombies. He really delves into shock after being unable to shoot a zombie down as they come right back up. Martin Shakar doesn’t go as over the top in his role of John while his pregnant wife is excellently played by former 60’s one hit wonder Gale Garnett. The finale is one you would most likely expect. 

The Children is not a completely terrible film. The death scenes are quite interesting despite the cheap effects but the over the top acting is laughable. Overall, it’s a mixed bag with this one.

WFG RATING: C+

An Albright Films Production. Director: Mel Kalmanowicz. Producers: Carlton J. Albright and Mel Kalmanowicz. Writers: Carlton J. Albright and Edward Terry. Cinematography: Barry Abrams. Editing: Nikki Wessling.

Cast: Gil Rogers, Martin Shakar, Gale Garnett, Shannon Bolin, Tracy Griswold, Joy Glaccum, Jeptha Evans, Clara Evans, Sarah Albright, Nathanael Albright, Julie Carrier, Jessie Abrams.