"The Children" is a deeply unpleasant British horror film that seems to take a perverse delight in exploiting a group of young children staying at a remote country estate over the Christmas period and who, for no apparent reason, turn on their parents and older sister in a particularly vicious way. The writer/director Tom Shankland displays some degree of imagination though it's a very sick one and the cast all respond with enthusiasm though hopefully the children weren't really aware of what was happening. For horror aficionados only.

It's a Birtish non-zombie epidemic infection horror movie about a relaxing Christmas vacation turns into a terrifying fight for survival as the children were gonna to kill parents while they had to kill children. Sounds a very cute Christmas movie for kids and family, right? I thought it was gonna to be another horror movie with jump scares, but it's not, it's actually really a creepy and terrific movie. The cast are solid, but I mostly like the story and fight scenes. The editing was.. truly horrible and too quick because it was confusing to tell who was doing who to that and it made some of the scenes hard to follow. But overall, it's a solid movie with disturbing and unusual story, and I loved the ending.7.5/10

Elaine (Eva Birthistle), her second husband husband Jonah (Stephen Campbell Moore), her teenage daughter Casey (Hannah Tointon) and her children Miranda (Eva Sayer) and Paulie (William Howes) travel to the isolated house of her sister Chloe (Rachel Shelley) to spend the New Year with her family. They are welcomed by Chloe, her husband Robbie (Jeremy Sheffield) and their children Nicky (Jake Hathaway) and Leah (Rafiella Brooks). Casey is upset since she will miss a party and Paulie vomits, but his parents believe he is sick because of the travel. During the night, Nicky and Leah become also sick and Leah vomits something strange. Along the day, the other children become also infected and Miranda attacks Chloe. Robbie brings the other children to play in the snow and while riding in a sledge, Nicky puts some tools in the way and Robbie dies with the impact on his head. Soon the children attack the adults and Casey and her mother seeks shelter. Will someone survive?"The Children" is a gore horror film with a story that does not explain why only the children are affected by some mysterious virus that make them violent against adults. The plot is tense but gives the sensation that something is missing to make "The Children" a great horror movie. The open conclusion makes the viewer wondering whether Casey is also infected or not. My vote is five.Title (Brazil): Not Available

A powerful cautionary film about the high expectations of the holidays and the inevitable disappointment that follows. Director Tom Shankland's profoundly disturbing film demonstrates an insight and understanding of the true nature of a child's mind and is an important glimpse into the dark corners therein. The unrelenting suspense in this motion picture is almost unendurable and the intensity of the horror is sometimes overwhelming. Anyone who has spent a Christmas vacation with a house full of kids like this will recognize the terror and may have to turn away. A superb cast give remarkable performances, especially the young actors who portray the demonic tykes. See this film before planning any Christmas vacation in the country with more than one child.