Summary

• Children can be terrifying antagonists, subverting expectations in horror films.
• Movies featuring evil children touch on real-world issues, from delinquency to psychological trauma.
• Horror films like Eden Lake, Orphan, and Sinister showcase the dark side of childhood innocence.

Children are our future, our hope and often considered innocent and pure. This notion, however, will be quickly dispelled after watching any of these movies and observing these little critters. Using a child as an antagonist in a movie is a great way to subvert expectations and cause some genuinely uneasy viewing experiences.

It’s not a new trope, however. Since horror was born as a genre, cinema has put children on both sides: they will either hang from a cliff, or they can actually be the ones stomping on the hands of victims wearing a huge smile and being the killers the industry is sometimes afraid of. Since then, many films within the horror, drama, or thriller genres have used children as a force for evil in their productions, often to the disbelief (until it’s too late) of the adult protagonists.

While a number of these movies are all-out horror stories, with some even touching on supernatural elements, others are more planted in reality, acting as a reflection of some serious real-world issues. With that in mind, below are 10 of the most notable movies to incorporate evil children within their plotlines.

The following list may contain minor spoilers.

10 Eden Lake (2008)

Eden Lake is set in the remote wooded countryside, where a couple’s relaxing trip in the great outdoors turns into a living hell when they encounter a group of delinquent teenagers. The young gang physically and mentally abuses the couple until things spiral completely out of control. The film makes great use of a collective concern for teenagers wearing hoodies that was pretty present in Great Britain in the late 2010s.

You'll Cancel Your Vacation After Seeing Eden Lake

Although it wasn’t a huge hit in the States, it is definitely worth a watch and was nominated for the Empire Award for Best British Film. Maybe not as well-known as others on this list, this little British indie horror/thriller flick has managed to amass quite a cult following over the years, and for good reason. It's a great "camping gone wrong" film that subjects its characters to an unimaginable ordeal led by children who take their curiosity and primal manner a bit too far. Stream Eden Lake on Freevee.

9 Children of the Corn (1984)

One of Stephen King’s many forays into the world of horror, Children of the Corn, tells the story of a malevolent entity that entices the town's children to ritually murder all the town's adults to ensure a successful corn harvest. Or at least, that's what the little ghouls imply and express to a couple who stop at their town and notice something strange. There are no adults. It's one of King's adaptations that tends to fall between the crevices because of its production value.

One of the Most Unsettling Premises in the King-verse

The movie's based on a strange but simple concept that leaves it open to a whole heap of creepy children committing all manner of slasher-style atrocities. But don't think it's pointless violence. The kids are doing this for a reason, and this incorporates an element of religious horror that's very unsettling. Despite mixed reviews, the film has become a cult classic and spawned a number of sequels and reboots over the years, to varying levels of success. Stream Children of the Corn on Prime Video.

8 The Good Son (1993)

In The Good Son, 12-year-old boy Mark loses his mom and his father sends him to spend the winter break with his uncles in another city. Mark is well-behaved and kind of shy, but his new family warmly welcomes him, especially his cousin, Henry. They're the same age, so they should connect. But as it turns out, Mark realizes Henry is not as kind as his parents think, and will show his true nature to Mark.

"Kevin" Shows His True Face

If signs of Macaulay Culkin’s potential to play a psychopath began to show in Home Alone, it was fully realized in The Good Son. Alongside the innocent young bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Elijah Wood, Culkin’s behavior seems all the more disturbing, especially when Wood’s character mistakenly starts getting the blame. Released at the height of Culkin’s stardom, the film went on to be a hit at the box office despite mixed reviews. It’s worth a watch for those interested in Culkin taking on a far darker role than usual, and to see the enormous potential in a pre-Lord of The Rings Elijah Wood. Rent The Good Son on Prime Video.

7 Orphan (2009)

The plot of Orphan centers on a couple who, after the death of their unborn child, adopt a mysterious nine-year-old girl from an orphanage in order to help with the grief. Esther arrives at the Coleman household, and while she acts like the perfect kid, she's actually hiding a secret. One that her new family will discover as soon as violent events start taking place upon Esther's arrival. In case you haven't seen this one, we recommend you experience the third act while you're sitting down. You will shriek.

No One Will Forget the First Time They Experienced that Twist

The movie is a fine example of a ‘child from hell’ horror thriller, with a few glints of pitch-black humor thrown in for good measure. The dark, foreboding atmosphere never lets up as the orphan in question continues to up the ante in her acts of evil, which all leads to an explosive finale that is sure not to be forgotten by a soul who’s watched the movie. Isabelle Fuhrman's performance as Esther is one of the best of horror in the 2000s, and strangely, she was able to play the same character in the film's prequel that came out 13 years later. Yes, the physical issues shouldn't add up, but Orphan: First Kill is a solid revisit of the character you won't want to miss. Stream Orphan on Max.

6 Goodnight Mommy (2014)

The fantastic Austrian psychological thriller, Goodnight Mommy, follows the complex relationship between a pair of twin boys and their mother, who has just returned from facial reconstructive surgery. The boys begin to question the woman's identity underneath the bandages, believing that the woman is not their mother but, in fact, an impostor. When they do their best to uncover the truth about this woman, they resort to extreme measures. But this is not the average "kids attack grownups" film. There's something, and you'll want to stick around for it.

The Scariest Horror Here

Without giving too much away, it’s safe to say that things get really dark and unnerving. Leaning on the more extreme end of the horror spectrum, Goodnight Mommy might not be for everyone, but if you do choose to give it a go, it’s certainly not a movie experience you’ll be likely to forget anytime soon. This international horror film was remade for American audiences in 2022, but it went unnoticed by most people. Trust us and stick with the original version, directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, the duo responsible for films like The Lodge. Stream Goodnight Mommy on Shudder.

5 We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

We Need to Talk About Kevin follows Tilda Swinton as a mother who struggles to come to terms with adjusting to her new life following some truly horrific acts Kevin has committed. Through a series of flashbacks, the audience is shown the ordeal she’s had to endure her entire life at the hands of her psychotic son as his behavior begins to become increasingly sinister. But nothing you imagine will match Kevin's ultimate act of evil. Nothing at all.

It's Not Horror, but Horrific

Unlike many other entries on this list, We Need to Talk About Kevin is not an all-out horror movie and instead is a drama based firmly in reality, mirroring similar struggles in the country. However, Kevin's transformation undoubtedly takes the film into horror territory, making it an experience of dread you will never have again. While Swinton truly shines, supporting cast members John C. Reilly, as the father, and Ezra Miller, as Kevin, also turn in solid performances. Stream We Need to Talk About Kevin on Prime Video.

4 The Omen (1976)

The Omen follows young Damien, who was replaced at birth after the Thorns' biological child dies shortly after birth. While Robert knows, Katherine doesn't. As a series of mysterious events and violent deaths occur around the family as Damien enters childhood, they come to learn he may be the prophesied Antichrist.

A Fine Example of Religious Horror

Interestingly, at the time of the film’s release, reviews were mixed to poor, but retrospectively, the film is widely regarded as an all-time great within the religious horror genre. Damien is probably the world’s most notorious example of an evil child, albeit a fictional one. But the film never indulges in a climactic reveal where Damien becomes all-powerful and installs Hell on Earth. It's actually a more disturbing conclusion that will leave you shaking at the confirmation that his innocent gaze won and will continue to do so. Stream The Omen on Hulu.

3 The Bad Seed (1956)

Based on William March's novel of the same name, The Bad Seed tells the story of Kenneth and Christine Penmark, whose daughter Rhoda is the perfect example of what an American girl should be. But then a body drops and all clues point to Rhoda being somewhat responsible or involved in the death of Claude. When her mother starts investigating what could be the basis for these claims, she finds out the truth about herself, a horrible fact that could explain Rhoda's supposedly evil nature.

The One that Started It All

Made in 1956, many would think The Bad Seed feels outdated and has lost its authenticity. But aside from the black and white, nothing has fizzled out about the quirky Rhoda, one of cinema's grand villains that mostly goes unnoticed because she's just a kid. Played by Patty McCormack, Rhoda is based on a transition that audiences are subjected to when trying to justify something as terrible as a child killer. Is she a victim? Is she misunderstood? Perhaps she's just a cold-blooded killer whose innocence is just a cover for something evil and malignant. Stream The Bad Seed on Tubi.

2 The Brood (1979)

David Cronenberg's The Brood tells the story of Frank Carveth, a man who's in the middle of a horrible custody battle with his ex-wife, Nola. Nola is now part of an experiment led by a psychotherapist called Hal Raglan, who incites his patients to get rid of repressed emotions in any way they can. This causes the patients' bodies to suffer drastic changes and to excrete violent children who represent Nola's real feelings. Yes, it's confusing, but this is a master director at his best, and The Brood is one of his most original films.

The Power of Emotions

Of course, the film is a body horror film. The Cronenberg of the '70s would not permit otherwise. The little monsters are psychoplasmic expressions of Nola's repressed emotions about her past, and they're out to wreak havoc. The bizarre experience that is The Brood flows into something much more extreme and unique that people have associated with postpartum depression and twisted motherhood. Of the films on the list, this is the one you will never, ever forget because of its gruesome nature. Stream The Brood on Max.

1 Sinister (2012)

In Scott Derrickson's Sinister, true crime author Ellison Oswalt has taken his family to live in a new home. He's trying to achieve success again with a new book, and what his family doesn't know is that a family was brutally murdered in their new home. Ellison decides to keep this a secret. But then he finds a projector and Super 8 reels, on which there are recordings of the brutal events. Ellison begins seeing things, and when one of his sons falls prey to an unseen entity, he steps up and tries to solve his family's ordeal.

A Disturbing Twist

The film isn't about evil children up until the very end when it's shown that Bughuul, the ancient god in control of everything, has the ability to lead children into mayhem. Regardless, the film's conclusion, when Ellison is shown the true nature of his daughter, is an extremely disturbing moment in modern horror. Super 8 films were never the same for members of the audience who experienced the most evil acts by children who created the first found footage films in horror cinema. Stream Sinister on Max.

To stay in the spirit of horror, here's a video about some horror movies that are much better than what their Rotten Tomatoes scores claim: