7 Little Psychos: The Wild Cards of Kids in Horror
You may have noticed I love me a bit of a count down. There’s something oddly satisfying in systematically creeping people out in a professional format – not too dissimilar to some of the little darklings lurking below, who ritualistically tortured their victims one terrifying scene at a time. Let us know which one’s your favourite, as we take a look at these 7 little psychos!
7. Damien in The Omen (1976)
The Omen (1976)
I’ll kick off with The Omen, as anyone who was ever named Damien will understand the peril of their namesake. Richard Donner’s 1976 suburban horror stars Gregory Peck as the father of a baby whose soul is replaced by Satan shortly after birth. Damien’s reign of terror destroys everything in its wake, as he is surrounded by mysterious and brutal deaths. All the while, the little town is unaware that he is the Antichrist (we’ve all had that kid in our class). The film was so popular that it led to a sequel and a remake later on. It even has its own show of the same ilk, called Little Devil. The Omen paved the way for the spawn of Satan’s signature smirk. Fans can unite in feeling slightly chilly at the hands of this petulant child throughout the movie.
6. Cole in The Babysitter (2017)
The Babysitter (2017)
McG’s 2017 Netflix original The Babysitter pretty much has everything you would expect from a pre-teen horror flick. We follow a young boy’s lust for his babysitter in what can only be described as cringe-worthily reminiscent of our first crush. Late night movies, dance-offs in the living room, our first taste of alcohol, sacrificing a fellow class mate to Satan… OK, I may have slightly embellished the last part, but for Cole, it’s an all too real wake up call. Emerging from a drugged slumber, he watches on as the love of his life reveals that she is actually part of a satanic cult. We’ve all been there, mate. So, it’s fight or flight for the poor boy as he takes on the pubescent psychos in a bid to save himself – and the girl next door. Altogether now… Awwww.
5. Oliver in The Other Side of the Door (2016)
The Other Side of the Door (2016)
2016’s The Other Side of the Door offers an altogether more harrowing experience, when a child will stop at (literally) nothing to get his mother’s attention. Directed by Johannes Roberts, the supernatural nightmare stars Maria (Sarah Wayne Callies) and Michael (Jeremey Sisto) as mourning parents, consumed with guilt over the untimely death of their young son, Oliver. The audience will find themselves drowning (pun intended) in a range of emotions thanks to the little boy who just wants to know why. And wouldn’t you, after what happened to him? This less than family-friendly phantom echoes the betrayal he feels at the hands of his mother, both as he dies and in the afterlife. Oliver’s tormented spirit takes a nasty turn as his jealousy and tantrums become increasingly directed towards his (living) kid sister.
4. The Red Queen in the Resident Evil Series
Resident Evil (2002)
Resident Evil’s Red Queen is my favourite hidden gem for representing kids in horror. Explaining to someone that director Paul W. S. Anderson successfully depicts the torment she causes without lifting a virtual finger (whilst being extremely smug) usually gets a resounding “OH YEAH!” Even more impressive, this little princess causes nothing but anguish, not only for Alice (Milla Jovovich) and The Umbrella Corporation, but she’s intent on the demise of the entire planet. In her defence, her signature warning “You’re all going to die down here” was always pretty foreboding – and not to be taken lightly.
3. Lilith in Case 39 (2009)
Case 39 (2009)
Case 39 was a movie that made me question my own morals. Children dying in films is a prominent taboo, but my goodness, did I wish they’d never saved her from that oven! This sinister cinematic piece is enough to put you off doing a good deed ever again. Renée Zellweger stars as social worker Emily, who is called out to a domestic disturbance involving a child. After allowing her emotions to cloud her judgement, she rescues the child, Lilith, and allows her to seek solace in her own home. It’s not long before the ominous and bizarre deaths of those closest to our young antagonist begin to unfold. The child’s possessive rage and seemingly unlimited power begin to destroy Emily’s life, as she realises the horrifying truth and struggles with handing the girl’s fate.
2. Pretty much all of the kids in Sinister (2012)
Sinister (2012)
Scott Derrickson’s aptly named 2012 hit Sinister tells the tale of a family plagued by a violent, child-hungry demon (with an eerie penchant for filmmaking). We watch on in horror as true-crime writer Ellison Oswalt discovers a set of super 8 movies in the attic of his family’s new home and slowly uncovers a series of disturbing murders with a bizarre supernatural theme. As he delves deeper into the mystery, it becomes apparent that all is not well with his own family – in particular, his kids. With a enough jumps and jolts to keep you on your toes, the film’s mixture of brutality married with childish innocence will send unavoidable shivers down your spine and make you think twice about wanting your own kids!
1. Jennifer in Jennifer’s Body (2009)
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
Directed by Karyn Kusama and starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer’s Body is a typical teenage tale of two very different best friends leading their day-to-day lives, hanging out at school… and occasionally ripping out the jugulars of unsuspecting boys. Possessed by a demon and consequently transformed into a succubus with a desire for human flesh, Jennifer is on a rampage and her male classmates are the ones most at risk. Her best friend Needy must find a way to put a stop to Jennifer’s killing spree, before it’s too late. We’re unsure if turning someone into a “lasagne with teeth” is classed as an extracurricular activity, but Jennifer does make a good point when she says “I’m not killing people, I’m killing boys” – a quote many teenage girls may have appreciated after having their hearts broken for the first time.
