I love creepy kid movies. Whether it’s Village of the Damned, The Omen, or The Innocents, I’m always down to watch evil children bedevil the people around them. It’s one of my absolute favorite horror tropes, so naturally, when I heard about the trailer for The Park, I knew I had to check it out. Here’s what the film is about:
When a mysterious virus starts killing all adults, society is left to be governed by children living on borrowed time. After the adult population is wiped out, rival kids battle for control of an abandoned theme park. Danger lurks around every corner, and they must do whatever it takes to survive their hellish Neverland.
I don’t know about you, but that premise alone is enough to get me interested. It’s basically Lord of the Flies in an abandoned theme park, but with an added twist. Not only are there no adults in this story, but there are also no adults left in the world at large. It ups the stakes in a pretty big way, and I for one can’t wait to see what this adult-less world is like.
Then, when you add in the trailer, The Park becomes even more intriguing. To be fair, it doesn’t feature as much creepy kid imagery as you might expect, but when you think about it, that actually makes sense. These children aren’t possessed or haunted. They’re just fighting for their survival, so whatever else they may be, “creepy” isn’t exactly the best word for it.
Don’t get me wrong, there are still some very creepy kids here, but they’re not the trailer’s focus. Instead, it’s more concerned with atmosphere, pathos, and hinting at the movie’s badass action, and it looks fantastic. If this movie works on all those levels, it’s going to be the complete package, and I couldn’t be happier.
The Park hits VOD on March 2.