Who Can Kill a Child?

Foreign Film from Spain - Spanish Title: Quien puede matar a un nino

Language - English & Spanish (when in Spanish, Subtitles are in English)

Genre - Horror (Foreign)

Year Released - 1976

Running Time - 112 minutes

Directed by Narciso Ibanez Serrador (who directed one of the 6 Films to Keep You Awake - Blame)

Written by Narciso Ibanez Serrador (who also wrote Blame) and Juan Jose Plans (the movie is based upon his novel)

Cast Includes Lewis Fiander and Prunella Ransome

Rating: 5 Skulls

Plot Summary:

In this unnerving shocker, a British couple's holiday becomes a nightmarish ordeal when they sail to an island off the Spanish coast.

Arriving on Almanzora, Tom and his pregnant wife, Evelyn, soon realize that something is amiss: the place is devoid of grownups.

It seems the children have murdered the adults - and unless Tom and Evelyn are willing to do the unthinkable, they will be next.

This was an alternate title for the film

Review:

The movie's opening credit sequence was quite interesting - pretty much a 10 minute history lesson, that pretty much answers the film title's question, as it shows atrocities committed to children, throughout the world.

When Tom & Evelyn 1st arrive on the island of Almanzora, it is deserted and quite a bit creepy. When finally Evelyn spots an older gentleman crossing an intersection, into an alley, both her and Tom are horrified when they watch (from a distance) as a young girl follows, and just out of view, you see her grab the man's cane and start beating him with it!
Tom ends up running over to investigate further only to discover that a group of children, one whom is wielding a sickle, are using the old man as a human pinata!
At this point, I do not know why Tom didn't take Evelyn and immediately attempt to leave the island, but such is the world of movies. . .

The children in the movie, reminded me of the kids from Hostel (if you've seen Hostel, then you understand where I'm coming from)
There is a scene where Tom and Evelyn eventually do attempt to leave the island, and a group of the children are blocking the way, wielding all sorts of weapons.
I found this movie to be pretty intense and I definitely recommend it!
I watched this one, mainly due to the fact that I just recently watched one of the director's other films (Blame - see review) and also, I have heard whispers that this film is on Hollywood's plate for a re-make (God Help Us, I know!) Actually, if done correctly, this movie could be benefit from a re-make, as I am not sure that it is well known, and there are still unanswered questions, such as what caused the kids to go berserk in the first place. . .
I actually looked up the copyright to Stephen King's short story Children of the Corn, as I had to wonder if King was at all influenced by this film - chances are possible that he was, as the copyright to Children of the Corn (first published in Penthouse) was 1977, a year after this film was released.
Either way, I am going to look for a copy of Juan Jose Plan's novel, to read for myself. :-)

Jason