Children of the Night

Toronto International Film Festival Program Book
1991

Children of the Night
Tony Randel
USA, 1991 91 minutes
Colour/35mm
Production Company: Fangoria Films
Executive Producer: Norman Jacobs, Steven Jacobs
Producer: Christopher Webster, Howard Nash, Damon Santostefano
Screenplay: Nicolas Falacci
Cinematography: Richard Michalak
Editor: Rick Roberts, Arthur J. Codron
Art Director: Kim Hix
Sound: Hans Roland
Special Effects: K.N.B. EFX Group
Music: Daniel Licht
Principal Cast: Karen Black, Peter DeLuise, Ami Dolenz, Maya McLaughlin, Evan Mackenzie, Garrett Morris

“Fangoria” magazine has a reputation for intelligent writing, gruesome photography, and its support of off-beat horror films. In recent years fans of both horror and science fiction filmmaking have made the glossy journal something of a bible, giving it the clout to reveal the secrets behind increasingly prestigious productions. It comes as no surprise, then, that the magazine’s first attempt at film production is as impressive as its journalism. Everything about Children of the Night is a treat. It has novel and genuinely creepy special effects, delectable performances (particularly from the sometimes erratic Karen Black), a script which is both credible and compelling, and a spirited sense of campy fun. It also manages to re-invent the vampire story with wonderful panache, dropping frequent references to zombie and blood-sucking classics of the past.

The storyline, which bobs and weaves effortlessly through countless engaging set-ups and off-the-wall characters, concerns two young girls in a small town who have an intense curiosity about the local church and its flooded basement crypt. When they decide to engage in a late-night swim/coming-of-age ritual, the girls encounter the evil that lurks beneath the surface. Soon their quiet hamlet of Allburg has become a very different place. Only the town wino (the deranged Garrett Morris) and a nearby schoolteacher (the virtuous Peter DeLuise) escape the evil curse of Czakyr. The four of them must face the evil lord together and save the pathetic shreds of humanity left alive. Kudos to director Tony Randel (of Hellbound fame) and special effects masters K.N.B. EFX Group for devising this unique synthesis of slick, big studio production values and the irrepressible energy of the independent world. And, finally, some sort of award should go to the designer of Karen Black’s placenta sleeping bag—rarely has genius been so apparent. —Noah Cowan