Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things (1972)

Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things (1972)

“Get out of the grave, Alan. Get out of the grave and let an artist show you how to call a curse down on Satan!”

Synopsis:
A theater director (Alan Ormsby) brings his actors to a remote island to participate in a mock necromancy ritual — but the group soon finds itself in mortal danger as zombies rise from their graves.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Actors and Actresses
  • Horror
  • Zombies

Response to Peary’s Review:
In his inimitable, no-holds-barred style, Peary perfectly describes this cult film by writer/director Bob Clark as a “cheap, ugly, non-frightening, non-funny horror comedy with odious characters,” made by “amateurs who think any completed horror film will make money.” I agree. It’s beyond amazing to me that the director of one of my all-time favorite comedies — A Christmas Story (1983) — also helmed this “excuse for a film,” full of unappealing protagonists, bad acting, laughable make-up, and a painfully unfunny premise.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:
None.

Must See?
No. While it’s apparently somewhat of a cult favorite, it’s too awful to recommend.

Links:

One thought on “Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things (1972)

  1. First viewing. Not a must.

    Finally broke down and experienced this…well, one might be tempted to call it a TPOS. ~but it isn’t, exactly.

    The first half, of course, is wretched. Just bad in every department. Every Department.

    Then things change…slightly. It’s still not good. But the second half is a little better. (And the last 3 minutes are a genuine surprise.) Itself influenced considerably by ‘Night of the Living Dead’ (a better film), this is a transitional work that may very well have influenced ‘The Evil Dead’ (also a better film).

    But basically this is a movie about 2 things: 1) a bunch of young people looking for a break in a movie; and 2) people in charge of those young people, who are in search of the cult flick buck.

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