Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things
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| Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things | |
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| Directed by | Bob Clark |
| Produced by | Bob Clark Gary Gochl Peter James |
| Written by | Bob Clark Alan Ormsby |
| Starring | Alan Ormsby |
| Release date(s) | 1972 |
| Running time | 87 min. |
| Language | English |
| Allmovie profile | |
This article is about the original movie. For the Supernatural episode, see Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things (Supernatural)
Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things (also known as Revenge of the Living Dead, Things From the Dead, and Zreaks) is a 1972 horror film directed by Bob Clark.
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[edit] Plot
The story focuses around a theater troupe, led by Alan (Alan Ormsby) a mean-spirited director, who travel by boat to a small island for buried criminals. Using a grimoire, Alan begins a seance to raise the dead after digging up the body of a man named Orville Dunworth (Seth Sklarey). Though the original intent of the ritual may have been intended solely as a joke, Alan appears disappointed that his efforts received no response except from the mockings of cast member Val (Valerie Mamches). Afterwards the party continues and Alan goes to extremes to degrade the actors, using the corpse of Orville for his own sick jokes. The dead return and force the troupe to take refuge in the old house. They must decide whether it's best to stay put until day, provided the old house holds up against the undead onslaught, try to all flee through the pitch black cemetery and forest to the boat, or have one person brave the obstacle in hopes that they can bring back help in time.
[edit] About The Film
Made in 1972, this low-budget zombie movie is the first film of director Bob Clark, famous for later directing the films Black Christmas, A Christmas Story, and Porky's.
The zombies in this story differ only slightly from other cinematic zombies. While radiation or toxins have caused the dead to walk in other films, these zombies come back from the dead via a satanic chant. The zombies in the story also do not spread the condition. It would seem if a CSPWDT zombie bites you or kills you, you do not become one of the undead. The similarity these zombies do have is the flesh eating / cannibalism, a trait that a majority of zombies seem to have in common.
The movie opens with what seems to be an actual ghoul standing by a cemetery plot, who then attacks the groundskeeper. This is later to be found out to be a friend to director Alan named Roy (Roy Engleman), who only tied up the groundskeeper. Along with another friend named Emerson (Robert Philip), also dressed as a ghoul, have plotted with Alan on scaring the rest of the cast who are about to arrive. Later when the real ghouls rise and begin to overtake the island, they spot Emerson in full ghoul gear but are not fooled by his disguise and simply overwhelm him in attack. This has been a situation posed in later zombie movies, such as Hard Rock Zombies and Shaun of the Dead. However, in those films, the zombies are not as intelligent and can be fooled simply by mimicking their mannerisms, without even the benefits of monster make-up.
The troupe tries to take a run for the boat, but that proves unsuccessful. The group must retreat and go to the house. A new chant is given and momentarily seems to work as it becomes quiet outside. Against the pleas of the refugee cast, Paul (Paul Cronin) tries to run and get help. He looks to be the fittest of the group, but is overtaken immediately, proving that physical fitness alone will not ensure survival. The rest of the cast try to barricade the house, while Alan looks to reverse the spell through his grimoire. He finds that there is a way of doing this but it requires returning the corpse (Orville) used in the ceremony to its grave. The plan appears impossible since now the ghouls dwell on the burial grounds. Before this plot could even been attempted, the monsters smash into the house. Alan and Anya (Anya Ormsby) run to the stairs, where Anya falls behind. Alan's fear keep him from engaging in an inhuman tug of war, and the ghouls appear surprised at Alan for surrendering Anya to them. Alan flees to a room where Orville awaits to exact his revenge. The ghouls burst through the door and Alan is taken in creature tidal wave. After feasting on all the human inhabitants, the horde of ghouls board the docked boat and head for the city lights of the mainland.
[edit] Trivia
- Bob Clark revisited his zombie roots in Porky's II: The Next Day when the boys from Angel Beach tried to set up a prank on Pee Wee, by having Steve (Rod Ball) dress as a ghoul and spring out at him in a cemetery prank.
- According to Tom Savini (who served as FX artist), Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things played all through the filming of the drive-in theater scene in Bob Clark's Deathdream.
- Actor Bruce Solomon, who plays the ghoul named Winns also appears as Sgt. Raimi in another zombie movie titled Night of the Creeps.
- Actor Jeff Gillen (Jeff) played the Santa Claus in Clarks Film, A Christmas Story.
- Also the television series Supernatural(TV Series) has an episode with the same title as the movie
[edit] DVD Specs
- Although previously available on VHS, a 35th anniversary special edition DVD was released in 2007 by VCI Entertainment.
- It features the uncut version of the film, a photo gallery, and a cast commentary.
- Briefly made available on VHS through Anchor Bay Entertainment.
