Aug 2014 *
For my first ever review here in the Troma zone, I had planned on writing a review for what most people consider the greatest of all Troma movies, the Legendary Toxic Avenger. But in true Tromafreak fashion, I've decided to write about some random piece of shit that nobody cares about instead.
A terrible movie this is. Possibly the worst killer kid flick in existence. Out of all the so bad it's good Horrors of the 80's, the Troma Team always seems to go after shit like this. But sometimes, even shit like this can have redeeming qualities. Unfortunately, said qualities don't show up until the last scene.
We begin with Father and son playing and frolicking amongst nature. Awkward little scenes involving the father quoting Beowulf for fun, and father and son singing sweet tunes like "Old McDonald". One day, Father gets careless whilst frollicking with son, and gets his leg stuck in a bear trap. Son sits by dying father's side, listening to him babble and go insane, and obsessively quoting Beowulf, and eating beans.
A lot of talk about cannibalism. Father eventually croaks. Newly brain-washed son ditches beans, and mutilates and eats freshly deceased father for supper. What a little asshole.
Fast forward 10 years. John Dewolfe, along with his irritating little family, is driving out to rural New Jersey to help out his old army buddy (sheriff of Rural New Jersey) and his irritating little family, who are all stressed because his daughter was kidnapped some time ago. Actually, a lot of kids from this town have turned up missing. Is it foul play, or did they simply take off just to get away from their unreasonable, religous fanatic parents? Well, whatever the case, Sci-fi writer, John Dewolfe, Army-buddy-Sheriff, his pal, Dr. Fish, and some psychic chick who calls everyone "dearie" should have enough brain power between them to get to the bottom of this. The bottom being that the little kid from the beginning is still lurking the woods, and has grown into one mean bastard who thinks his name is Grendel, and has kidnapped all these missing kids and brain washed them into a small army of little pussy killers.
If there is any reason to seek this movie out, it's the unexpected ending that almost makes the experience worth it. If this movie is known for anything, it's definitely that. As the rest of the movie goes, there is some potential somewhere in there. It's a good idea for a movie. Reminiscent of Children of The Corn at times. But the delivery is abysmal on so many levels. From the little pussy kids who never acted a day in their lives, to the annoying cheap key board score to the unsuccessful attempts at humor by an ugly as fuck cast. Beware: Children At Play sucks. But not unwatchable. And that ending I spoke of should leave you with atleast one fond memory of rural New Jersey. 3/10
For my first ever review here in the Troma zone, I had planned on writing a review for what most people consider the greatest of all Troma movies, the Legendary Toxic Avenger. But in true Tromafreak fashion, I've decided to write about some random piece of shit that nobody cares about instead.A terrible movie this is. Possibly the worst killer kid flick in existence. Out of all the so bad it's good Horrors of the 80's, the Troma Team always seems to go after shit like this. But sometimes, even shit like this can have redeeming qualities. Unfortunately, said qualities don't show up until the last scene.
We begin with Father and son playing and frolicking amongst nature. Awkward little scenes involving the father quoting Beowulf for fun, and father and son singing sweet tunes like "Old McDonald". One day, Father gets careless whilst frollicking with son, and gets his leg stuck in a bear trap. Son sits by dying father's side, listening to him babble and go insane, and obsessively quoting Beowulf, and eating beans. A lot of talk about cannibalism. Father eventually croaks. Newly brain-washed son ditches beans, and mutilates and eats freshly deceased father for supper. What a little asshole. Fast forward 10 years. John Dewolfe, along with his irritating little family, is driving out to rural New Jersey to help out his old army buddy (sheriff of Rural New Jersey) and his irritating little family, who are all stressed because his daughter was kidnapped some time ago. Actually, a lot of kids from this town have turned up missing. Is it foul play, or did they simply take off just to get away from their unreasonable, religous fanatic parents? Well, whatever the case, Sci-fi writer, John Dewolfe, Army-buddy-Sheriff, his pal, Dr. Fish, and some psychic chick who calls everyone "dearie" should have enough brain power between them to get to the bottom of this. The bottom being that the little kid from the beginning is still lurking the woods, and has grown into one mean bastard who thinks his name is Grendel, and has kidnapped all these missing kids and brain washed them into a small army of little pussy killers. If there is any reason to seek this movie out, it's the unexpected ending that almost makes the experience worth it. If this movie is known for anything, it's definitely that. As the rest of the movie goes, there is some potential somewhere in there. It's a good idea for a movie. Reminiscent of Children of The Corn at times. But the delivery is abysmal on so many levels. From the little pussy kids who never acted a day in their lives, to the annoying cheap key board score to the unsuccessful attempts at humor by an ugly as fuck cast. Beware: Children At Play sucks. But not unwatchable. And that ending I spoke of should leave you with atleast one fond memory of rural New Jersey. 3/10
