Tag Archives: Mervyn LeRoy

Best Evil Children films ever made (10+1list)

Best Evil Children films ever made

written by Souranath Banerjee

Best Evil Children films ever made: Children are a blessing, a gift from God, guiltless and cute and vulnerable and naive and …. and sometimes pure evil!

In certain movies children are depicted as young psychotic demons or criminal master minds who can manipulate and influence other children or even adults into sheer devastation. Disguised under the cape of playful innocence they can make your life a living hell!

Here are some of the Best Evil Children films that surely won’t let you sleep peacefully tonight. So, beware of the little ones!

10. The Good Son (1993)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI4n1g8opmA

Evil-Children-filmsMacaulay Culkin the cute mischivous boy from Home Alone have managed to turn himself into one of the many faces of evil!

A story of a boy with an innocent face and sinister intentions who likes to control the fate of the people around him and drives their lives towards sheer disaster.

Directed by Joseph Ruben, a movie both freaky and scary for the right reasons. Also starring Elijah Wood.

9. Who Can Kill a Child? (1976)

¿Quién puede matar a un niño? (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUwo3I9eas4

Evil-Children-filmsIt’s not a good idea for tourists to visit an island where there are no adults (left) but only starry-eyed children who wants to murder you! And if you want to defend yourself then you have to kill them nut then – Who Can Kill a Child?

Directed by Narciso Ibáñez Serrador, this Spanish flick is creepy enough to hold your attention. Another film based on similar concept is Children of the Corn (1984)

8. Case 39 (2009)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok-5lWGBQr8

Evil-Children-filmsRenée Zellweger, a social worker rescues ten year old abused girl Jodelle Ferland from her parents and tries her best to comfort the child.

But soon the whole perspective of the abused and abuser changes!

Directed by Christian Alvart, a thriller with some superb unexpected twists that will engage you till the very end.

7. Joshua (2007)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpeTkVEJqDE

Evil-Children-filmsA highly talented 9-year-old kid shows disturbing behavioural signs since the arrival of a newborn girl in his family – jealousy and the urge to get back his parent’s attention soon turns the little boy into a psychotic monster!

Directed by George Ratliff, and brilliant performances by Sam Rockwell, Vera Farmiga and the kid Jacob Kogan. The brilliant music by Nico Muhly makes the film a great eerie experience.

6. Them (2006)

Ils (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFTbcDRkG1o

Evil-Children-filmsA group of young hooded assailants attack a couple in their peacefully isolated country house, it seems they want to play a dangerous game, and thus begins a night of unimaginable terror!

Directed by David Moreau and Xavier Palud, a great suspense thriller with superb background scores. And the most chilling part of the film is that this is based on a true story!

5. The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK4za8v8_YI

Evil-Children-filmsA 13-year-old girl lives in a secluded house, seems like her parents are never around to meet anyone or may be she is hiding some dark secret from the entire neighbourhood. And it’s better for the neighbours not to be too curious for their own safety.

Directed by Nicolas Gessner and a brilliant performance from young Jodie Foster, a superb thriller full of suspense and Martin Sheen!

4. Village of the Damned (1960)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AUBlW5EWnI

Evil-Children-films‘People, especially children, aren’t measured by their IQ. What’s important about them is whether they’re good or bad, and these children are bad.’

You don’t want to end up in a small English village swarming with creepy children who stare at you and can make you do horrible things.

Directed by Wolf Rilla, a surprisingly brilliant creepy film.

3. The Bad Seed (1956)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooy8HTb8izw

Evil-Children-films‘Children can be nasty, don’t you think?’

Probably a mother’s worst suspicion will be that her sweet innocent eight year-old daughter have committed a murder! But what if she has committed more than one murders and still be entirely remorseless about them?

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, great acting by Nancy Kelly and Patty McCormack – this one is a classic!

2. We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV7Y5cylhNc

Evil-Children-filmsKevin, a troubled child gets more psychotic as he grows up and his estranged relationship with his mother Tilda Swinton gets even more complicated and threatening which eventually builds up to a frightening climax.

Directed by Lynne Ramsay, an absolutely brilliant movie, highly disturbing and thrilling at the same time. Certainly the most though provoking film in this list.

  1. The Omen (1976)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7CEbd7ffNw

Evil-Children-filmsCertainly the most popular and successful ‘evil-child’ movie till date.

Gregory Peck and Lee Remick, a couple who needed a child finally adopts one but through a series of sinister events they eventually realise that the child is no ordinary. Can the young kid be the son of the Devil?

Directed by Richard Donner, a true horror classic that demands your attention!

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch)

+1. Orphan (2009)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ywOPNNii9w

Evil-Children-filmsA 9 year-old girl recently adopted by a loving couple seems to have problems – as the poster says ‘there’s something wrong with Esther.’

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, a film full of surprises – the orphan child with a mysterious past is apparantly not what she claims to be. Isabelle Fuhrman as the kid, Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard as the parents – all at their very best. 

Similar Interest: Best Child Psychology Films ever made

Poster courtesy: www.imdb.com.

BEST PRISON ESCAPE MOVIES EVER MADE (10+1LIST)

Best prison escape movies ever made.

written by Sriram Sundar

Prison films are generally classified into two categories: the first type is the escape-drama where the jailbirds desperately attempts to break away from high security prisons, and the second category is more focused on the life inside the prison walls.

Now these Jailbreak movies are spiked with high dozes of suspense and tension; and most often you start sympathising with the convict and his desperate attempts for freedom – but then can he succeed in his attempt to break free or remain trapped in the system?

Well, let’s check out the fate of the prisoner in some of these Best prison escape movies ever made.

10. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hB3S9bIaco

Covering a period from 1946 to 1967, Shawshank focuses on the plight of a Maine banker, Andy Dufresne who sentenced to two life terms for the murder of his wife and lover.

Directed by Frank Darabont, this film was also nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Morgan Freeman as Ellis Redding, the veteran inmate of Shawshank State Prison who takes Tim Robbins (Andy Dufresne) under his wing. The greatest movie ever made..! Period.

9. Papillon (1973)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW_IWHw3z-U

Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, this  movie is based on a book by the same name authored by Henri Charriere, a former convict and fugitive from Devil’s Island and though the work is fiction, the background is entirely based on real events.

Papillon  (Steve McQueen) is charged with a crime he hasn’t committed, and Luis Dega (Dustin Hoffman), a fraud banker is convicted on counterfeit charges. Bound by mutual necessity, they soon become friends during their journey to Devil’s Island.

8. Escape from Alcatraz (1979)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSS0fH9zzFY

Directed by Don Siegel, this film is a little slow and doesn’t move in a breakneck pace but still, it is listed as a “classic” on most movie review sites,

Clint Eastwood strolled through this movie naturally as Frank Morris, a soft spoken, solitary prisoner who was destined to escape Alcatraz. Been rated PG (“parental guidance suggested”) as it includes some explicit violence, bloodshed and obscene language.

7. Anything for Her (2008)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBZVsLoSsDU

Police burst into the house of happily married schoolteacher Julien (Vincent Lindon) and arrest his wife, Lisa (Diane Kruger) on suspicion of murdering her female boss. She’s given a 20-year sentence and he’s left to raise their small son.  As time passes, diabetic Lisa stops taking her insulin in an attempted suicide and Lucien feels that time is running out to keep his family together. He goes about meticulously planning her escape – but how does one go about breaking someone out of prison?

Directed by Fred Cavayé, it is a fast-paced and engrossing thriller that gained a nomination for Best First Work at the César Awards in 2009.

6. The Great Escape (1963)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkwmIDx9RwQ

This movie tells the story of a group of prisoners of war who try to escape from a Nazi POW camp during World War II, with the help of a meticulous and ingenious plan. Steve McQueen epitomizes the attitude with his frequent shenanigans.

Directed by John Sturges, “The Great Escape” is regarded as one of the greatest WWII films ever. The movie starts  with the signature theme tune that is heard around many football grounds even today.

5. The Hole (1960)

Le trou (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK7fZrSC6VA

Five prisoners housed in a French prison during the late 1940s awaiting sentence break through their cell floor, enter the insides of the prison, and get to the sewer system from where they can break into the regular sewage setup and finally freedom. But the best-laid plans are foiled by a newcomer who turns them in.

Sadly, this was Director Jacques Becker‘s last film – he died just a few weeks after filming on Le Trou had been completed.

4. Stalag 17 (1953)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T86RDFgzC5U

Directed by Billy WilderStalag 17 begins with two prisoners from the barrack who, after careful planning with the rest of inmates try to escape the camp but are discovered & shot down. It is  a light-hearted thriller drama that makes you laugh all along.

All eyes fall on Sgt. Sefton (William Holden) who frequently makes exchanges with German guards for small luxuries. To protect himself from a mob of his enraged fellow inmates, Sgt. Sefton resolves to find the true traitor within their midst.

3. La Grande Illusion (1937)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hctrYzVYmfM

Director Jean Renoir tells us the story of a group of French soldiers who are held captive in prisoner of war camps during the First World War, the war that was to end all wars.

Lieutenant Marechal (Jean Gabin) is a pilot and blue collar guy while Captain de Boldieu is an aristocrat. They are shot down by Captain von Rauffenstein, a German aristocrat, while flying a reconnaissance mission. This movie received an Oscar nomination for best motion picture of the year.

2. Midnight Express (1978)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buDEEC7tKv4

‘Midnight Express’ takes you into a world where the only thing that can keep you alive in this horrible real world is bravery.  This film also won two Oscars; ‘Best Music, Original Score’ and ‘Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

Directed by Alan Parker, it is the true story of Billy Hayes (Brad Davis), an American tourist who gets caught trying to smuggle several kilos of hashish out of the country.

1. A Man Escaped (1956)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6nHFpKK6Lc

“When one is in prison, the most important thing is the door.”
– Robert Bresson

Based on the memoirs of André Devigny, who escaped from Fort Montlucin Lyonin 1943, during World War II, ‘A Man Escaped’ tells the story of Fontaine (François Leterrier), a member of the French Resistance who is imprisoned by the Nazis in Montluc prison after an unsuccessful escape attempt.

Director Robert Bressons masterpiece is still a pinnacle in French cinema.

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch.

+1. I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QvF2FZZftY

For director Mervyn LeRoy, with a career that spanned more than three decades, ‘I am a Fugitive from a Chain’ Gang represented one of his first major successes.

James Allen (Paul Muni) is wrongfully convicted of a crime and is sent to work in a chain gang where he first encounters this living hell. He spends years of being treated like an animal by the inhumane prison system. But he waits, biding his time for the perfect moment to make a break for freedom.