There’s Something Wrong With the Children is a 2023 American horror film about a family that takes a trip with friends and their kids.
Directed by Roxanne Benjamin (Body at Brighton Rock; XX; Southbound segments) from a screenplay written by T.J. Cimfel and Dave White. Executive produced by Josh Reinhold, Jeremy Gold, Chris McCumber and Jason Blum.
The Blumhouse production stars film stars Alisha Wainwright, Zach Gilford, Amanda Crew, Carlos Santos, Briella Guiza and David Mattle.
Plot synopsis:
When Margaret (Wainwright) and Ben (Gilford) take a weekend trip with longtime friends Ellie (Crew) and Thomas (Santos) and their two young children (Guiza and Mattle), Ben begins to suspect something supernatural is occurring when the kids behave strangely after disappearing into the woods overnight…
Reviews:
“Strong performances from the entire cast make the drama come alive […] It’s a common pitfall in creepy kid movies to have young actors who aren’t scary. They pull it off. There’s Something Wrong with the Children has one or two predictable moments, like a scene where an unlucky cop shows up to investigate.” 3 out of 4, The Aisle Seat
“There’s Something Wrong with the Children attempts to play psychological games, but the whole thing settles into survival mode for the last act, becoming like every other genre picture in the marketplace, greatly diminishing the movie’s fear factor. Scoring by The Gifted is also tiring, cranked up to generate atmosphere for the effort, becoming intrusive as it endeavors to make a flaccid film scary.” 2.5 out of 5, Blu-ray.com
” …a film that’s not particularly scary but is also unable to deal with all the themes it evokes. There’s Something Wrong With the Children is fine as it is for a casual watch, but it’s painful to watch such a talented cast trying to salvage a bland horror film that had so much potential to be unforgettable.” Grade: C, Collider
“As economically compact as most straight-to-streaming scares from Blumhouse often are, There’s Something Wrong with the Children is made well enough. The genre simply doesn’t have any imperative use for a new take on old setups when the only twist is swapped gender roles. Mature themes and a quality cast might win more enthusiastic “mehs” from some audiences, although others are more likely to tune out to the tepidness.” 50 out of 100, Culture Crypt
“Roxanne Benjamin, whose directing career has mostly been television, brings what she has learned from a more time-restrictive medium to a feature-length film with excellent results. Her ability to capture moments that will send shivers down your spine from the performances she helps cultivate creates this further unnerving world that the audience find themselves exploring.” 3.5 out of 5, Elements of Madness
“The script is fine, but it does have a few pacing issues in the back half of the film, it ramps up and speeds to the finale, yet it still feels about ten minutes too long. A fun film that doesn’t break any new ground, but it is entertaining. You’ll probably be wary of children for a few days after as well.” Haddonfield Horror
“There’s Something Wrong with the Children isn’t interested in the easy answers, nor is it willing to wrap up its tale in a tidy bow. Atmospheric creepiness sneaks up on the viewer before assaulting them in the final act with simplistic yet haunting imagery. This Blumhouse production was tasteful in ways I did not expect, and actually displays a surprising amount of restraint given the subject matter.” 3.5 out of 5, Josh at the Movies
” …an unfortunate misfire that suffers from a lack of any emotional investment and originality that ultimately leaves you feeling bored more often than scared. Roxanne Benjamin tries her best to add some visual flair from the director’s chair but it sadly isn’t enough to save it from absolute mundanity. The themes of parenthood and the mental toll it has on people is handled poorly… Loud and Clear
“A movie that does not aspire in its budget or its screenplay to offer a “little extra” something that it probably needs […] This is, unfortunately, an average movie. It has funny scenes that are well filmed, but in general is nothing but one of those movies that lack a “something extra” to make it stand out.” Martin Cid Magazine
“There’s Something Wrong with the Children leaves way to much unexplained. We never learn just where the pit leads to or what is in it. What was the praying mantis like thing whose shadow we see? […] The film also ends very abruptly, a few seconds before it should have, robbing the climax of some of its punch.” 3 out of 5, Voices from the Balcony
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