Todays movie review is cult classic Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things (1972) A movie I had watched a long time ago but I was happy to rewatch it for this review. The movie was directed by Bob Clark who directed one of my favourite horror movies Black Christmas (1974). Perhaps that explains why I like Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things, at least in part, but to be honest they are very different movies. Black Christmas whilst it has comedy is by no means a comedy horror whereas Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things is comedy, campy comedy, with some horror thrown into the mix. The end result is pleasant, but not without issues, given the low budget that is hardly a surprise.
The movie revolves around a group of actors, some are aspiring, some are jaded, but they are all at the whim of their cruel and strange director, Alan. I say cruel and strange but Alan is probably quite tame compared to what Hollywood directors get up to nowadays. Anyway, Alan has two of his most cliched gay and outrageously camp actors go ahead and dig up a corpse for his amusement and for the purpose of a ritual. Alan you see has obtained a spell book, and a magic robe, and he intends to get his moneys worth out of his purchases and his actors. As you can imagine things do not go to plan, and as the title says, Children shouldn't play with dead things.
On a technical level the movie is like many low budget movies, flawed. In the spirit of "good" bad movies it embraces it's cheapness and frames the horror with lashings of comedy. That is not to say the movie has no horror credentials, indeed it is very effective at setting the mood and that sense of foreboding. We know what will happen but the movie keeps us guessing as to when. The acting is ropey in places but several actors give expert over acting performances, but given these are actors and directors we can believe them. The special effects are limited but some of the make up is well executed and the undead are not without their charms. I can see why this film has gained cult status.
6 out of 10
Summary: well worth a viewing if you enjoy low budget campy comedy horror. Gore fans should probably avoid, not much to get them excited.