Watch The Child

The Child is a horror film from 1977, directed by Robert Voskanian and starring Laurel Barnett, Rosalie Cole, and Frank Janson. The movie blends elements of the supernatural and psychological horror, immersing viewers in an unsettling atmosphere full of suspense and chilling revelations. The film centers around the character of Alicianne Del Mar, played by Laurel Barnett, who arrives in a remote rural area to work as a nanny for the Nordon family. Her charge is a young girl named Rosalie Nordon, portrayed by Rosalie Cole, who has recently lost her mother under mysterious circumstances. Right from the start, Alicianne notices that the child exhibits strange and eerie behavior, which the townspeople speak of in hushed tones and with a sense of unease.

Rosalie is not only dealing with the loss of her mother, but she also seems to be isolated and detached from those around her—you can sense that there is something distinctly different about this little girl. As Alicianne tries to bond with Rosalie and adjust to her new surroundings, she begins to witness bizarre and inexplicable incidents that seem to center around the child.

Frank Janson plays the role of Len Nordon, Rosalie's grieving father, who appears somewhat indifferent to his daughter's peculiarities and ongoing occurrences. His character embodies the typical stoic demeanor, showing the struggles of handling loss while seemingly neglecting the complexities of his daughter’s evolving personality.

The setting of the film contributes greatly to its overall tone and atmosphere. The house where Alicianne and Rosalie reside feels trapped in time, imbued with a haunting sense of history and secrets that are waiting to be uncovered. The surrounding forest, which often serves as a playground for Rosalie, is depicted as both eerie and enchanting, adding layers to the already unsettling ambiance of the movie.

As the plot unfolds, Alicianne begins to question the nature of the events happening around her. The more she uncovers about Rosalie and the Nordon family’s past, the more she is drawn into a nightmare that she could never have anticipated. Themes of loss, isolation, and the supernatural weave together to create a psychological tapestry that challenges the characters’ perceptions of reality.

The Child employs a gradual buildup of tension, using suspense rather than outright gore or shock tactics. The film’s pacing might feel deliberate to some audiences, but this methodical advancement serves to enhance the mood and allow viewers to become fully immersed in the psychological terror that unfolds.

Rosalie's character is central to the brewing storm of horror in the film. With her haunting presence and otherworldly demeanor, she embodies a source of fear that is both innocent and malignant. Her interactions with the environment and the characters around her suggest that she may be connected to forces beyond the realm of the living, and as such, her relationship with Alicianne becomes increasingly complex and fraught with danger.

The cinematography and sound design also play crucial roles in setting the eerie tone of The Child. The camera work captures the desolation and isolation of the rural setting, as well as the uncanny nature of the happenings within and around the Nordon household. The sound, often minimalistic and discordant, serves to highlight the film’s suspenseful scenes and accentuate the unsettling dynamics at play.

Throughout the story, there is a palpable sense of the past colliding with the present, as the history of the Nordon family appears to have left a mark on the living. This culminates in a series of events that push the boundaries between the supernatural and psychological, blurring the lines of what is real and what is a product of the characters' fears and imaginations.

As the movie progresses, Alicianne's character is developed and tested in ways that force the audience to sympathize with her growing desperation to understand the forces at work and protect herself and perhaps even Rosalie from the unseen threats that loom over them. This deepening mystery propels the film forward, leading to an impending sense of dread that is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

The Child is not only a story about a peculiar little girl and her nanny, but also a window into the human psyche and the lengths to which it can be stretched by grief and the supernatural. It is a film that speaks to the fears of the unknown, the power of innocence, and the darkness that can lurk beneath it.

In conclusion, The Child is a noteworthy entry into the pantheon of 1970s horror films. It might lack the high-intensity scares of modern horror, but it more than makes up for it with atmosphere and psychological depth. This film invites viewers to step into a slow-burning tale of the otherworldly and the unexplained, leaving a lasting impression that haunts well after the credits roll.

The Child is a 1977 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.9.