Watch Children of the Night

Children of the Night is a 1985 horror film directed by Robert Markowitz and starring Kathleen Quinlan, Nicholas Campbell, and Mario Van Peebles. The story follows a social worker named Karen (Quinlan) who begins investigating a series of bizarre deaths in a small rural town. As she delves deeper into the case, Karen discovers that the townspeople are hiding a dark and deadly secret.

The film opens with a group of teenagers sneaking into an abandoned house to party. However, things take a turn for the worse when one of the teens is killed by a mysterious creature lurking in the shadows. The local police are unable to explain the death, and in the following days, more bodies begin to pile up.

Enter Karen, a dedicated social worker who is assigned to investigate the deaths. She quickly discovers that the town is not as idyllic as it seems, and that the residents are hiding something. Karen struggles to get any answers from the closed-off community, but she refuses to give up.

As Karen continues her investigation, she meets a man named Paul (Campbell), who has his own reasons for being in town. Paul is initially hesitant to get involved but soon realizes that he can't stand by and watch as innocent lives are lost. Together, Karen and Paul uncover the terrible truth about the townspeople and the monstrous creature that is responsible for the deaths.

The film is a slow-burning horror that relies more on atmosphere and tension than jump scares and gore. The setting of the small rural town creates a sense of isolation and dread, with the townspeople seemingly united in their determination to keep their secret hidden. The cinematography is moody and atmospheric, with a lot of dark, shadowy scenes that are both creepy and mysterious.

The acting is competent enough, with Quinlan delivering a solid performance as the determined social worker. Campbell also does a good job as the mysterious stranger with a troubled past. However, the standout performance comes from Van Peebles, who plays a local resident named James. James is a charismatic and enigmatic figure who seems to know more than he's letting on. Van Peebles delivers a scene-stealing performance that is both chilling and captivating.

One of the film's main strengths is its pacing. The story unfolds gradually, with each new piece of information adding to the overall sense of unease. The film also does a good job of building up the creature's mythology, with the townspeople revealing more and more about its origins as the story progresses.

The creature itself is well-designed, with prosthetics and animatronics used to create a convincing and terrifying monster. The creature is more of a lurking presence than an active participant in the story, which adds to its mystery and menace.

Overall, Children of the Night is a solid horror film that relies on atmosphere and tension to create a creepy and unsettling experience. The story is engaging, and the performances are strong, with Van Peebles stealing the show. If you're a fan of slow-burning horror that relies on mood and atmosphere, then this film is definitely worth checking out.