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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.

Don’t Breathe (2016)

Don’t Breathe review

written by Souranath Banerjee

Rejoice all you thriller-junkies out there, this ruthless claustrophobic film promises not to give you much of a breathing space, so don’t you dare – breathe!

My Ratings: 4.1/5

Remember the edgy climax scene from the 1991 Oscar winning film The Silence of the Lambs where FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) in pursuit of Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine) gets inside this spooky basement where there is complete darkness – well, check out the scene below and refresh your memories.

And now imagine something this intense and nerve-wrecking, such acute tension boiling up scene after scene throughout the entire length of a film till the very end-titles!

Yes, that’s exactly what writer/director Fede Alvarez (of the latest dont-breathe-review-poster3Evil Dead fame) have managed to deliver and that too in an unique stylised fashion. Along with co-writer Rodo Sayagues the script of Don’t Breathe simply races forward keeping the audiences successfully uncomfortable in the darkness (still breathing i guess).

Three friends, regular small-time crooks, Rocky (Jane Levy), Alex (Dylan Minnette) and Money (Daniel Zovatto) plan to rob a blind man’s house but then of course things doesn’t turn out the way they have planned (to put it in a mild way).

Believable acting by each and every one but Stephen Lang as the helpless blind man with negligible dialogues is definitely worth a dont-breathe-review-poster2special mention.

Great camera work by Pedro Luque, the camera moves around the house effortlessly pointing out objects and props-to-be-used-in-future that enhances the anticipation of the viewers, and that too well punctuated by appropriate use of neurotic music by Roque Baños.

But the spine of the film is probably it’s water-tight editing; crisp and swift, never letting the momentum fall, and for that thanks to Eric L. BeasonLouise Ford and Gardner Gould.

Don’t breathe is a film that you were waiting for. Go watch it and you will thank me later!

Poster courtesy: http://www.impawards.com

Best of Martin Scorsese

Best of Martin Scorsese.

written by Souranath Banerjee.

Superlative adjectives like ‘most significant’, ‘most influential’, ‘the best director of our times’, ‘the greatest storyteller’, all begin to make sense when used in context of the one and only – Martin Scorsese.

The man with thick black, bushy eyebrows who has managed to won every prestigious awards that exists in this world (Academy Award, a Palme d’OrCannes Film Festival Best Director AwardSilver LionGrammy AwardEmmysGolden GlobesBAFTAsDGA Awards and even the AFI Life Achievement Award).

Directed almost 60 films till date, Scorsese is also renowned as a producer, screenwriter, actor, and film historian.

His innovative styles of filmmaking are taught in every film-school all over the world; one of the very few directors whose films are both commercially and critically acclaimed.

Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprioHarvey Keitel are some of the actors with whom Martin Scorsese has worked the most and together they created some legendary cinema.

But for now i have listed some of his best feature films (no shorts or documentaries in this list).

Let the fun begin.

1. The Departed (2006)

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

departed-poster

A remake of Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs (2002), an ultimate game of deceit between an cop and a mole in the police department. 

Along with Leonardo DiCaprio we have Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson, what a combination of actors and such brilliant performances!

Four Oscar wins including best director award for Scorsese.

2. Casino (1995)

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

casino-poster

Robert De NiroSharon Stone (got an Academy Award nomination for her role) and of course Joe Pesci – and a hard hitting story of power and greed.

One of the most violent films that Scorsese ever made and it’s also the eighth and final collaboration with Robert De Niro

Best Casino drama ever!

3. Gangs of New York (2002)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5YmI2PW9R8

gnags-of-newyork-poster

Nominated in ten categories in the Oscars, an extraordinary period film that has it’s own cult following.

Leonardo DiCaprioCameron Diaz and  Daniel Day-Lewis (as Bill ‘The Butcher’) at their very best.

A revenge drama; a boy who returns to kill his father’s murderer.

And also with this film starts the actor/director bonding between DiCaprio and Scorsese.

4. Mean Streets (1973)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCwjzn0CncA

mean-streets-poster

One of Scorsese’s earliest classics and in this one Scorsese works with Robert De Niro for the first time.

Harvey Keitel along with David Proval gives terrific performances. 

A gang of friends, small time hoods who hustle and try to make a living in the mean streets of New York.

Extensive use of hand-held camera and also camera-strapped-to-the-body technique for drunken effect.

5. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

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

The-Wolf-of-Wall-Street-PosterFive Oscar nominations and the most entertaining film of recent times!

Leonardo DiCaprio along with Jonah Hill and Matthew McConaughey gives out their best.

Based on a wealthy stockbroker Jordan Belfort’s exciting life, the film is a roller-coaster ride of unlimited money, crime, drugs, sex, corruption and sheer madness.  

6. Goodfellas (1990)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo5jJpHtI1Y

GoodFellas-film-poster

Six Academy Award nominations and Joe Pesci winning the Oscar in the ‘best actor in a supporting role’ category. 

Outstanding performance by Robert De Niro and for Ray Liotta – his best role ever. 

Based on the life of Henry Hill, this film is regarded as one of the greatest gangster drama. Extreme use of curse words and violence but highly entertaining as well.

7. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJKxg4p-Alk

last-temptation-of-christ-poster

Controversial yet brilliant, this one is Scorsese’s most courageous project till date.

Willem Dafoe superbly portrays the pain and joy of Christ. Harvey Keitel and Barbara Hershey at their best. 

Based on Nikos Kazantzakis‘s novel, the story of Christ and his last and final temptation on the cross. 

8. The King of Comedy (1982)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wVhCCo02P4

king-of-comedy-poster

An ambitious comedian who disrupts  famous celebrity Jerry Lewis‘s private life.

This film is very different from Scorsese’s general trend; a perfect black comedy with subtle dialogues and awesome acting.

According to Scorsese himself this was Robert De Niro‘s best performance under his direction.

9. The Aviator (2004)

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

aviator-poster

A take on the life of eccentric genius film director Howard Hughes who is also ‘the aviator’!

Leonardo DiCaprioCate Blanchett (won the Oscar as the best supporting actress) and Kate Beckinsale have given their best. Acting debut of singer Gwen Stefani as well.

A biopic that had total eleven Oscar nominations and five wins!

10. Raging Bull (1980)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiVOwxsa4OM

raging-bull-poster

Robert De Niro plays the famous boxer Jake LaMotta (for which he won the best actor Oscar) and Joe Pesci (his brother) and Cathy Moriarty (his wife).

Best boxing movie ever made which had eight Oscar nominations and two wins.

De Niro gained a record 60 pounds to look the part. A violent life both in and out of the ring portrayed to perfection.

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

+1. Taxi Driver (1976)

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

taxidriver-posterA mentally unstable Vietnam war veteran, a nighttime taxi driver in New York, an obsessed man with a mission, a violent man with good intentions. 

Robert De Niro nominated for the Academy Awards, undoubtedly best performance of his lifetime. Jodie Foster and Harvey Keitel at their best.

The director won the prestigious Palme d’Or award for this film.

Best of Roman Polanski

Best of Roman Polanski

written by Souranath Banerjee.

Known as the ‘truly international filmmaker’ Roman Polanski has evolved as a legendary name in the world of cinema.

Though nominated several times for the Oscars in the best director category Roman Polanski has won the award only once in 2002 for The Pianist.

Roman Polanski has directed four actors in performances that have earned them Oscar nominations: Ruth Gordon (Rosemary’s Baby), Jack Nicholson (Chinatown), Faye Dunaway (Chinatown), and Adrien Brody (The Pianist). Gordon and Brody have actually won the Academy Awards.

There has been many ups and downs in his personal life but as a filmmaker Roman Polanski has consistently given his best.

Listed are some of his best films till date. Let the fun begin!

10. Repulsion (1965)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO0niGPR5S4

repulsion posterPolanski’s first film in English – a classic psychological thriller.

The first in Polanski’s Apartment Trilogy as well, it is the story of a beautiful girl (Catherine Deneuve) whose repulsion from reality later leads to dangerous alleys of hallucinations and murders.

Scary and twisted yet disturbingly brilliant. A trademark Polanski film indeed.

9. The Ghost (2010)

Fil m Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_AerBW0EcI

the ghost writer posterStylish political thriller that is justified only by Polanski’s superb direction.

A ghost writer (Ewan McGregor) is hired to work for the former British Prime Minister (Pierce Brosnan). Certain secrets get revealed and the writer’s life is in danger!

Suspense and thrill gets a new definition in this film.

8. Bitter Moon (1992)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69cGkcHEfuU

bitter moon posterPassion or lust, love or torture, victim or the master?

In this film the roles of the characters keep changing as Polanski plunges deep into our human psyche and create such conflicting emotions.

Brilliant performances, one of the most cool and sexy films i have ever seen. And yes, Emmanuelle Seigner is super hot.

7. Tess (1979)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvGZ5XXPCSM

Tess poster Nominated in the Oscars for six different categories, Tess is visually one of the most beautiful film ever made.

Adapted from Thomas Hardy’s novel “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” it is one of those rare moments when you like the film version even better than the book. 

A slow paced film that gives the perfect picture of rural Victorian England – a delight to watch.

6. Carnage (2011)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPX6-4Bo7XU

Carnage posterOne apartment as the location, four characters Jodie FosterKate WinsletChristoph Waltz and John C. Reilly as the cast – the film is unique in many ways.

A fight between the children leads to an even bigger drama between their parents.

Master director Polanski plays with the his brilliant cast like puppets and brings out the best in them.

5. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PewtQsgN5uo

Rosemarys Baby poster One of the most popular films of Roman Polanski and probably the best horror film ever made.

Mia Farrow‘s best performance and the second in Polanski’s Apartment Trilogy.

Pregnant wife and her unborn child’s safety is all that matters, isn’t it?

Well,  people can get even murdered to protect the mysterious baby!

4. Chinatown (1974)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T37QkBc4IGY

chinatown posterPrivate detective (Jack Nicholson) is hired to solve a mystery that gets too dangerous to handle.

This film reminds me of the old Film noirs that Hollywood used to make in the 40s and 50s – the best modern age  Film Noir.

Nominated for Oscars in eleven categories – won only for original screenplay.

3. Knife in the Water (1962)

FIlm Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaBa2Wj3gHk

the knife in the water posterRoman Polanski’s first feature film and it was nominated for the Oscar in the best foreign film category.

Unfortunately the same year Fellini’s 81/2 was also nominated.

But never the less Polanski showed in his very first film his class as a director.

A gripping tale of human psychology and emotions.

2. The Tenant (1976)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmhIMbdecEU

The tenant poster My personal favorite, very disturbing to watch, this film haunts you  for days after you have seen it.

The last in Polanski’s Apartment Trilogy and probably the most terrifying one.

Polanski acted himself as the main character and did a superb job.

Believe me, getting a new apartment can’t get more scarier than this.

1. The Pianist (2002)

Film Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_jE7-6Uv7E

The pianist posterFinally the film Roman Polanski is known for and it is undoubtedly his best film.

Won Oscar as the best director, the film is about a pianist who being a Jew in the times of second world war had to struggle for his life but his love for piano remained unaltered. Adrien Brody at his best.

A must watch.

and

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

+1. Death and the Maiden (1994)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnnz214wwkI

death and the maiden posterWith three characters and one location, a crazy story where you are never sure who is telling the truth – you are afraid to take sides.

A dark film that touches pain and trauma; outstanding performances by Sigourney WeaverStuart Wilson and the legendary Ben Kingsley.

A perfect Polanski thriller.

List of Legendary Actors who also directed films

Did you know that so many of our favorite actors are directors as well? May be all are not as glorious and successful as Charlie Chaplin or Clint Eastwood but some of these Hollywood actors who also directed films deserves a pat on their shoulders.

Let’s see how many of these movies have you seen which are directed by these legendary actors.

Actor turned Director                Popular films directed

(Note: many of the actors have directed more films than mentioned here but i have listed only the popular ones)

Kirk Douglas                                  Scalawag (1973), Posse (1975)

Richard Burton                            Doctor Faustus (1967)

Diane Keaton                                Unstrung heroes (1995)

Billy Bob Thornton                    Sling Blade (1996)

Danny DeVito                              Throw Momma from the train (1987)

John Wayne                         The Alamo (1960), The Green Berets (1968)

Liv Ullmann                                     Sofie (1992), Faithless (2000)

Barbra Streisand                         Yentl (1983), The prince of tides (1991) 

Paul Newman                                 The glass Menagerie (1987)

Bill Murray                                       Quick Change (1990)

Alec Baldwin                                      Shortcut to Happiness (2003)

Ed Harris                         Pollock (2000), Appaloosa (2008)

Denzel Washington                      The great Debaters (2007)

Ethan Hawke               Chelsea Walls (2001), The Hottest state (2006)

Forest Whitaker         Waiting to Exhale (1995), Hope Floats (1998)

Sylvester Stallone                     Rambo (2008),The expendables (2010)

Jodie Foster                              Little man Tate (1991),The beaver (2011)

Ben Stiller                                   The Cable guy (1996), Zoolander (2001)

Ralph Fiennes               Coriolanus (2011), The invisible woman (2013)

Jack Nicholson                        Goin’ South (1978), The Two Jakes (1990)

Morgan Freeman                       Bopha! (1993)

Drew Barrymore                       Whip It (2009)

Antonio Banderas        Crazy in Alabama (1999), Summer Rain (2006)

Nicolas Cage                                  Sonny (2002)

Angelina Jolie                               In the land of blood and honey (2011)

Anthony Hopkins                      Dylan Thomas: Return Journey (1990)

Dustin Hoffman                          Quartet (2012)

Keanu Reeves                              Man of tai Chi (2013)

Tom Hanks                                     That thing you do! (1996)

Johnny Depp                                 The Brave (1997)

Robert De Nero      A Bronx Tale (1993), The Good Shepherd (2006)

Al Pacino                                             Chinese coffee (2000), Salomé (2013)

Kevin Costner          Dances with wolves (1990), The postman (1997)

Mel Gibson                                        Braveheart (1995), Apocalypto (2006)

Sean Penn                                          The pledge (2001), Into the wild (2007)

George Clooney                            The ides of March (2011) 

Ben Affleck                                        Argo (2012), Gone baby gone (2007)