Developed as one of Blumhouse’s collabs with EPIX on standalone horror films exclusively for the network, There’s Something Wrong with the Children chronicles a weekend in the woods, where two children have begun acting strangely after disappearing into the forest overnight. The film stars Zach Gilford (The Purge: Anarchy), Amanda Crew (Silicon Valley), Alisha Wainwright (Raising Dion), Carlos Santos (Gentefied), Briella Guiza (Michael Bay’s Ambulance movie), and David Mattle (Life & Beth).

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There’s Something Wrong with the Children stars Gilford and Wainwright as a childless couple on vacation with another couple when they begin to notice the strange behaviour of their friends’ children, leading to bloody outcomes and disturbing revelations. The trailer reveals an idyllic setting that quickly turns horrific when the group discovers a set of caves in the forest. Later, the children disappear and are found in the caves by Gilford’s character, beginning a strange and violent foray into the evil kids genre of horror that very rarely disappoints. Viewers watch as the couple and the parents slowly realize that the children’s violent and bizarre behaviour is caused by real evil.

The legacy of deadly children in horror goes back to classics like The Bad Seed and Village of the Damned. It remains to be seen whether There’s Something Wrong with the Children will join the top ranks of the terrifying children genre. One of the best examples in recent years was The Children, a 2008 British film with a similar premise, where a group of children begin systematically murdering a cabin full of parents and others with no explanation.

It’s a proven trope and will drive interest in Blumhouse’s new film, which already promises to be full of slow-build horror and bloody revelations. Judging by the There’s Something Wrong with the Children trailer, excellent performances from Guiza and Mattle as the spooky children will no doubt help the film along, as will the growing popularity of actors like Gilford, who has become a favorite in streaming horror projects like Mike Flanagan’s Netflix hits Midnight Mass and The Midnight Club.

There’s Something Wrong with The Children will arrive in Digital and On Demand outlets on January 17, 2023.

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Source: Paramount/YouTube