Zombie Obsession

Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things

I just finished watching Children Shouldn't Play with Dead things.  I do have to say that the first part of this movie was horribly SLOW.   The director (in the movie) was such an asshole that I could not WAIT for him to be eaten, the handwriting was on the wall of how he would die, so it was pretty predictable.  THE CLOTHES, wow, Talk about a trip down memory lane.  hee hee.  But all in all I liked it, it had a very good story and plot but that Alan guy just had way too much Dialogue (maybe  he was getting on my nerves because I've known people just like him. 

Actually the makeup in this movie was pretty good for such a low budget production.  I also enjoyed the very end, very Romero-isque.  It was a fun, entertaining movie I just wish they would have had MORE zombie action.   The moral of the story is that if you dig a dead person up, please don't taunt him (he may eat you one day). 

Any other zombie movies that you have just seen that you want to discuss?  Especially ones like this one that are not that popular but pretty entertaining...

Re: Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things

   I first saw "Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things"  at the drive-in during it's initial release...   I was very young...   This movie made quite an impreession on me at the time!   I thought the 'practical joke' that Alan played on his crew members was QUITE terrifying!   I STILL find it disturbing that that one guy would allow himself to be buried in a coffin...   no matter for HOW long!    The 'Zombie ressurection' scene in the cemetary is STILL one of the better ones I have seen!    Although this movie is quite 'dated' and VERY low budget, it is still a lot of fun even today!

   Alan Ormsby, who starred as 'Alan',  also handled the special make-up FX and wrote, or co-wrote, the screenplay.   A couple years later he would write and direct "Deranged"  ,  a semi-acurate depiction of the antics of Ed Gein...  featuring the early make-up effects of a guy named Tom Savini!   While Bob Clark, the director, would later go on to direct the original "Black Christmas"  , and, later, such movies as "Porky's"  and  "A Christmas Story"!

   FroggyBabe recently watched this for the first time and said she liked it as well...   perhaps she will share some thoughts with us?

Re: Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things

Re: Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things

Wow, Greg, great information!!  That is really cool.  I thought Deranged was a pretty good movie too, I actually think I own it, I'll have to see if I can find it.  Yes, I really thought the makeup in this movie was pretty cool and like I said, I don't want to give any spoilers but I loved the part where Alan opens the door at the end.  I even jumped a little, even though I was expecting it to happen.  AND That was the exact SAME thing that I thought too, WHAT idiot would allow himself  to be buried, all because this director kept threatening to fire everyone.  UGH.  He was soooo annoying, I was really hoping he would be torn from limb to limb and then over again.  sheez.  But like I said, his dialog was just getting on my nerves.

Hey Gor, I bet you'd look pretty hot in those white pants with the red, white and blue stripes and that yellowish shirt with the scarf tied around your neck.  Wooo-hoooooo!!  I want to get that one little sunflower sundress the crazy girl was wearing.  It's just so fun to look back at the fashions in these movies, especially when they are dressing trendy and cool for that time frame.  That was very fun. 

I think I'm going to have to get it for my collection.

Re: Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things

Re: Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things

I also saw Children at the theatre when it was first released.  I was a pre-teen and the flick scared the crap out of me!  When I watch it now, I still love it, but I find it more funny than scary; I guess a lot of the humour was lost on me as a young'n.  I also think it was the first real zombie movie I ever saw.  I didn't see NOTLD until many years later.

BTW, I read elsewhere that VCI is working on a new "Special Edition" DVD release for Children, due in October. It will have a much better transfer (the current DVD has a pretty crummy picture) and will include a commentary track with Alan Ormsby, Jane Daly and Anya Ormsby (now Anya Cronin).  Bob Clark was scheduled to participate but unfortunately he passed away in a terrible car accident earlier this year.

Anyone who likes this film should also check out Deathdream, also directed by Bob Clark, written by Alan Ormsby and featuring Jane Daly, Anya Ormsby and Jeff Gillen.  Tom Savini does the effective makeup, and I found the film very interesting and disturbing.  There's a great DVD available from Blue Underground.

Re: Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things

Very cool, I was going to buy it but I think I will wait then until October, I better put it on my calendar so I don't forget.  That sounds fun. 

I REMEMBER Deathdream, I saw it about a hundred years ago but I really liked it.  I am going to have to watch it again because I forgot a lot about it.  It was kind of sad in a way, wasn't it during the Vietnam War and about a soldier who's mother prays for him to come home when he was dying in battle...it's coming back to me now. 

Re: Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things