This odd little period zombie film plays like a hybrid of Night of the Living
Dead and The Bad Seed. The story centers on a seemingly-innocent tyke
(Rosalie Cole), living in the rural Northwest in the 1930s, who discovers
her father's role in her mother's brutal murder and takes supernatural
revenge by summoning up an army of zombies from the local cemetery.
While the locals are getting chomped in increasing numbers, the only one
who learns of the girl's demonic tendencies is her teenage nanny (Laurel
Barnett), who finds herself surrounded by legions of ghouls in a
farmhouse for the violent climax. This slow-moving film does manage
some very effective moments, summoning chills from seemingly
innocuous subjects -- Cole's frequently glassy expression; an
ominously-flickering Jack O' lantern -- but the barely-mobile zombies take
forever to show up for the final payoff and aren't really worth the wait.
Released briefly to theaters as The Child or The Zombie Child, then
re-titled for video. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Running Time: 83 mins
Director(s):Robert Voskanian
Writer(s):Ralph Lucas
Theatrical MPAA Rating: R
Dead and The Bad Seed. The story centers on a seemingly-innocent tyke
(Rosalie Cole), living in the rural Northwest in the 1930s, who discovers
her father's role in her mother's brutal murder and takes supernatural
revenge by summoning up an army of zombies from the local cemetery.
While the locals are getting chomped in increasing numbers, the only one
who learns of the girl's demonic tendencies is her teenage nanny (Laurel
Barnett), who finds herself surrounded by legions of ghouls in a
farmhouse for the violent climax. This slow-moving film does manage
some very effective moments, summoning chills from seemingly
innocuous subjects -- Cole's frequently glassy expression; an
ominously-flickering Jack O' lantern -- but the barely-mobile zombies take
forever to show up for the final payoff and aren't really worth the wait.
Released briefly to theaters as The Child or The Zombie Child, then
re-titled for video. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Running Time: 83 mins
Director(s):Robert Voskanian
Writer(s):Ralph Lucas
Theatrical MPAA Rating: R
