Children of the Dark (1994) (TV)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Michael Switzer

Writers (WGA):

Jeff Andrus (written by) and
Charles Wilkinson (written by) ...

Release Date:

17 April 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Discrimination | Disease | Photosensitive | Skin Disease | Sunlight

Cast

Peter Horton	...	Jim Harrison
Tracy Pollan	...	Kim Harrison
Roy Dotrice	...	Dr. Burnham
Bill Smitrovich	...	Milos Janecek
Natalia Nogulich	...	Stanja Janecek (as Natalija Nogulich)
Eric Pierpoint	...	Dr. David Tanner
Sam Horrigan	...	Bobby Harrison
Lindsey Haun	...	Jamie Harrison
Annalise Ashdown	...	Sherry Harrison
Ramon Bieri	...	T. Hardy Fallbrook
Annie Corley	...	Susan
Mary Pat Gleason	...	Lydia Fallbrook
Lenore Kasdorf	...	Peggy
Glenn Morshower	...	Trooper
Kenneth White	...	Mr. Dorfman

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Piru, California, USA

Company:

Steve Krantz Productions

Bevare of the Vampire Girls

"Vampire Girls" is one of the many cruel nicknames that is used by ignorant neighbors in the movie "Children of the Dark", after two young sisters are diagnosed with a rare disease that makes them unable to come in contact with sunlight. The little girls' disease distraughts their parents, confuses their older step-brother, and horrifies the neighboors, who want that family out of their one horse town! The actions of their neighbors creates the greatest conflict in "Children of the Dark", but unfortunately, it is also the silliest plot twist of this so-so TV movie. Such actions peroformed by the unwelcoming neighbors include: spray painting the house and van with the message "vampire girls", mocking the younger sister when she sneaks outside and talking to her in a "Dracula" voice (even some adults were doing it!), avoiding all of the family members, but gossiping about them when they are in hearing range, fighting with the father and making him lose his job, and vandalizing and setting their house on fire while they were in their backyard having a party! What's the family to do, move of course. What do they face? Problems, problems and more problems. Now, I am aware that Children of the Dark is based on a true story, and I even remember the real little girls appearing on the news. I'm sure they did face alienation because of their disease, and maybe even some acts of cruelty, but the movie really goes overboard to a point of where it's just kind of dumb after awhile. Oh well, it was still an entertaining and somewhat touching story with a good performance by Peter Horton.