The Blumhouse-produced There’s Something Wrong with the Children adds to a long, enduring line of evil kids in horror. Even the title suggests a classic tale of bad seeds terrorizing adults. Director Roxanne Benjamin (Body at Brighton Rock, Southbound) and screenwriters T.J. Cimfel and David White make it apparent early on that they’re more interested in using a familiar setup to explore new angles within the subgenre, subverting a few tropes in the process.
Margaret (Alisha Wainwright) and Ben (Zach Gilford) embark on a weekend cabin getaway with their good friends Ellie (Amanda Crew) and Thomas (Carlos Santos). Ellie and Thomas bring their kids, Lucy (Briella Guiza) and Spencer (David Mattle), who unwittingly derail the couples’ vacation plans. The children’s presence highlights the divide between parents and parentless, something Margaret tries to bridge by offering to watch the kids one night. They sneak away into the night, only to return the following day with entirely different, sinister personalities.
The first act bides its time establishing its adult characters and their interrelationships. So much so that the children fall into the background, even as their presence leaves Margaret and Ben contemplating their decision to stay child-free. That’s before messy drama enters the equation, leaving them pointing fingers at each other, distracting from the actual threat; Lucy and Spencer. That emphasis on the adults causes a fascinating evolution in the “bad seed” format.
The gender flipping of the gaslit grownup, albeit handled messily, serves as one of the most overt subversions, but the exploration of being childless by choice is refreshing. In a subgenre that often works as a solid reminder of why having children can be utterly terrifying, There’s Something Wrong with the Children incorporates it directly into its narrative. That emphasis means that the how and why of the supernatural event upending the weekend winds up irrelevant.
To that end, Benjamin finds clever ways to tease a larger mythology than shown. Through compelling imagery and bursts of violence in the latter half, Benjamin relays just enough information to propel her characters through their fight for survival. However, those teases may leave some wanting more, especially once it redirects from a character focus to horror.
Great performances anchor the horror. Wainwright navigates massive swings in her character, grounding them no matter how extreme the change between supporting girlfriend and best friend to skeptical accuser to fight mode. Margaret’s inability to support her partner will polarize, but Wainwright keeps her empathetic enough where it matters most. Crew gives Ellie an authenticity that resonates, both as a mother and Ellie’s best friend.
Benjamin infuses her latest with throwback stylings and a sense of humor that keeps the story zipping along. The characters’ lived in history and the overall sense of fun help distract from the elements that don’t work quite as well; the shift in lead protagonists brings with it some sloppy messaging that won’t sit well with some, despite the shift itself becoming a fascinating upending of convention. While it isn’t a complete reinvention of the subgenre, Benjamin offers enough fresh ideas and visual choices to set this one apart from the pack.
There’s Something Wrong with the Children is available on VOD today and arrives on MGM+ on March 17.
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