There is something about corrupted innocence in horror movie children that really seems to creep a lot of people out. They are always the ones we least expect to be a threat. Children are always presumed to be innocent and good but some horror movies like to put that notion to the test. There have been some great little kids in horror flicks that really seem to hit the nail on the head when it comes to being down right creepy. Without giving anything away (in case you are interested in watching some of these horror flicks), I will not reveal any important information to spoil the plot but rather give a description of what the general story line is about and what makes the little kid in the movie so damned creepy.
I had my doubts when I first decided to watch the movie Orphan but I was presently surprised in the overall plot of the film as well as its graphic nature. A couple, unable to have anymore children, makes the choice to adopt one that is around the same age as their son and daughter. They go to an orphanage and are drawn to a strange young girl who is clearly a loner. The little girl in this movie is absolutely perfect for the role. Her name is Esther and it’s clear that there is something very strange about her. I won’t say what happens but it is something that I didn’t see coming at all. This little girl is a perfect representation of a very creepy little girl.
Linda Blair who played the character of Reagan in one of the greatest horror movies ever, The Exorcist, is one of the creepiest kids I can think of. I guess it’s not really her fault because she becomes possessed but boy, did she nail that role. Maybe there is something about pale, dark haired little kids that tends to freak everybody out, especially after watching this film.
One of Kirsten Dunst’s first roles on the big screen was Claudia in Interview with a Vampire. It was clear that this young girl would someday be a great actress after watching this film. She is changed into a vampire and comes to the realization that she will forever be a child. I guess that would piss anybody off but her blood lust becomes more intense during the course of the movie and she does some pretty surprising things, even for a child vampire. The film Let me In attempted to do another movie staring a child vampire but I would have to say it definitely didn’t top this one.
The film the Omen wouldn’t be the same without the perfect creepy little boy to play the character of Damien. The remake of the classic certainly nailed that when they found a pale, dark haired little boy with a bowl cut to play the character. He proved to be a super creepy little boy and totally nailed the famous role.
The 2007 film Joshua featured yet another creepy little boy who had his own sadistic tendencies. The young boy shows strange and chilling behavior from the beginning but it only gets worse after the birth of his baby sister. He’s totally creepy and he is one little boy that I wouldn’t want to mess with.
Though the movie Hide and Seek, fell short of it’s type, Dakota Fanning, who transformed into quite the star over time, proved to be one highly creepy little girl. Even though she was creepy, there was something utterly precious and lovable about her. After the death of her mother, her father decides to move them to a remote location away from the city to engage in the healing process. However, it turns into a game of terror rather than healing.
There has always been something creepy about those children who just seem to be tormented. The perfect example of that can be seen in The Sixth Sense, staring Haley Joel Osment, who played the character of Cole. Cole sees dead people. He’s bullied and tormented but he always possesses a supernatural gift that nobody would ever want.
Horror movies that have creepy kids will always be that much better because it portrays an image of a child, those we always believe to be innocent and hold all that’s good, being completely bad or just down right creepy. This seems to be a trend in horror films and I don’t see it declining any time soon.