Cult Labs

Go Back   Cult Labs > Film Discussions > Horror > The 1970's And Beyond > The 1970's

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 4th August 2008, 05:54 PM
The Reaper Man@Cult Labs's Avatar
Cult Don
Cult Labs Radio Contributor
Good Trader
Senior Moderator
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Glasgow
Default Who Can Kill A Child? (1976)

Watched Who Can Kill A Child? last night and was pleasantly surprised at how disturbing it is.Highly recommended.It's easy to see (not so much the story maybe) but where the film Children of the Corn got it's visual influence from.
Feel free to discuss.......
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 5th August 2008, 07:16 AM
Philleh's Avatar
Cult Acolyte
Good Trader
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Cardiff
Blog Entries: 45
Default

Very good movie, let down by the opening though - way to protracted and overly graphic!

Once that's over though, it's one hell of a movie.
__________________

Welcome to The Deuce
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 5th August 2008, 02:27 PM
mark meakin's Avatar
Cultist on the Rampage
Good Trader
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Alfreton,Derbyshire
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Philleh View Post
Very good movie, let down by the opening though - way to protracted and overly graphic!

Once that's over though, it's one hell of a movie.
The precert I saw from Hokushi (I think) had the opening severely cut so I can't comment.However I thought it was pretty good & I'll certainly pick up the Dark Sky dvd eventually.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 5th August 2008, 02:50 PM
Philleh's Avatar
Cult Acolyte
Good Trader
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Cardiff
Blog Entries: 45
Default

The Dark Sky DVD is a great release and worth the price they ask for on Amazon.co.uk
__________________

Welcome to The Deuce
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 5th August 2008, 05:04 PM
The Reaper Man@Cult Labs's Avatar
Cult Don
Cult Labs Radio Contributor
Good Trader
Senior Moderator
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Glasgow
Default

Yeah Phill,the opening is horrendous-a bit too far,but once the movie has started......I can't remember the last time I watched a film with so much tension....the sense of dread,you just KNOW it ain't gonna end happily.....
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 15th March 2010, 09:43 AM
Wes's Avatar
Wes Wes is offline
Cultist on the Rampage
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Vermillion Sands, Cork, Ireland
Default

I agree with all the comments here about the opening - very heavy stuff. I think my wife would like this one, but when I show it to her I might discreetly move to the opening-proper of the film... Question - before the Dark Sky disc came out I always knew this film as Would You Kill A Child ?, which I think is a better worded title. Thing is, I'm wondering now if I mis-read the title, and I can't seem to russle up the old Hokushin sleeve. So was it in fact titled Would You Kill A Child ? at some point ?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 15th March 2010, 11:18 AM
nekromantik's Avatar
Cult Acolyte
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Worthing
Send a message via MSN to nekromantik
Default

I watched this few weeks ago.
Was a pretty cool flick, the kids were kinda creepy

It oozed atmosphere and was well filmed so gotta add it to my good spanish horror list even though its in english.
__________________


My DVD Collection
Tumblr
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 16th March 2010, 06:26 PM
The Reaper Man@Cult Labs's Avatar
Cult Don
Cult Labs Radio Contributor
Good Trader
Senior Moderator
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Glasgow
Default

Nasty little buggers.
Like to see how Jo Frost would deal with that lot.....
__________________

Teddy, I'm a Scotch drinker - you know that. I just have the occasional brandy when I'm not drinking.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 21st March 2010, 09:19 PM
Steel76's Avatar
Seasoned Cultist
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sweden
Default

Hmmm...I better order the DVD as soon as possible
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 5th April 2010, 01:06 AM
robertzombie's Avatar
Active Cultist
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: London
Default

My review of the Dark Sky release:

I screened this film at my University's Cult Film Society and it received a great, yet split reaction from the audience.

The film does question you on a number of levels, and also is one of the only films that truly emphasises the classical meaning of horror - that of loss. In this case a loss of innocence and self control.

The film is definitely worth buying if you're interested in exploring the question of the title, essentially it asks the viewer: could YOU kill a child if the situation depended on it? In our case many decided that they would kill the children in order to save themselves and their family!

We watched the Spanish language version with the English subs because the film was initially released in Spain and we wanted to experience it in its original form. However, the two leading characters' lines were recorded in English and then dubbed into Spanish, therefore the majority of the film was originally filmed in English. So you're probably better off watching it in English (the Dark Sky release has both audio tracks + subs). I suppose it depends on your own preference. I recommend watching both the Spanish and English dubs in order to get a more rounded feel for the movie.

A number of reviews have criticised the slow pace of the film. Essentially the interview with the film's cameraman (one of the disc's special features) says it all; they weren't trying to make a horror film but a psychological thriller, and they certainly succeeded.
I've seen a few reviews criticise the film for being boring. In my opinion the film is not boring, however it does take a good 30 minutes or so to get going, but if anything this heightens the shock-value of the final 2/3 of the film.

The extra features on the disc are fairly interesting though not particularly vast. It would have been nice to see a documentary or perhaps an analysis of the film by a critic, comparing it to other films of its time, but what with Who Can Kill A Child being a fairly obscure film I doubt anyone of any notoriety would be interested, despite its interesting subject matter and being an all around good film. To be honest, I was surprised that Dark Sky managed to interview two of the films key creators, so good on them for the effort!

The Dark Sky release is a definite one to buy, but don't expect 90mins of brain busting child maniacs. Do however expect, at times, a very intelligent and challenging piece.
Reply With Quote
Reply  

Like this? Share it using the links below!

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



Our goal is to keep Cult Labs friendly. If you feel discouraged from posting by certain members' behaviour then you can e-mail us in complete confidence.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2
All forum posts are contributed by members of the site; Cult Labs cannot take responsibility for all content posted on the site. If you have an issue with content posted on the site please click the 'report post' button.
Copyright © 2014 Cult Laboratories Ltd. All rights reserved.