Pint-Sized Terror: 4 of Horror’s Youngest and Most Terrifying Villains

With fantastic quotes like “sometimes, dead is better,” and a high concept that gets under your skin, it’s understandable why Pet Sematary is so well-loved by horror fans.

The story is of course based on Stephen King’s novel, which is a renowned classic, but at this point, the most iconic part of Pet Sematary is arguably none other than the adorable Gage who goes from normal, grinning toddler to a reanimated ruthless killer in practically the blink of an eye.

Miko Hughes’s portrayal of Gage in the 1989 Mary Lambert adaptation remains one of the most effective performances in horror film history. His quotable lines like “No fair!” and “Now I want to play with you!” are seared into the fabric of the genre.

Add in his trusty evil cat sidekick, Church, and you’ve got one winning (and lethal) combination. 

From The Fly and Dead Ringers to Shivers and Videodrome, David Cronenberg has made a career of producing fantastic horror films for more than half a century.

Nevertheless, it’s one of his earliest movies that remains my personal favorite. Released in 1979, The Brood is a seriously wild ride. Nola and Frank Carveth are in the middle of a messy divorce when Nola decamps for the Somafree Institute, the site of a controversial mental health treatment known as psychoplasmics.

From there, her behavior becomes increasingly unhinged, culminating in a climactic scene in which she reveals to her estranged husband exactly how well (and how terribly) her treatment has worked. Oliver Reed as Dr. Hal Raglan, the founder of Somafree, is a major highlight of the film, as he chews the scenery while getting in way over his head as Nola’s therapist, and Samantha Eggar as Nola remains one of the best and scariest mothers in the genre.

But it’s the eponymous brood that will likely stick with you the longest. The so-called children of Nola’s rage, these creatures are a result of her unconventional treatment, and when the audience gets to see how they’re born, it’s beyond disturbing and graphic. Some of the makeup effects are very basic with the creatures’ faces looking like half-molded clay, but somehow, that only makes the horror that much more effective.

The Brood is one for the ages, so put it on your watchlist if you’ve never seen it. Snowsuits have never looked so sinister. 

Based on the novel, The Midwich Cuckoos, the concept for Village of the Damned is outright chilling: everyone in the town of Midwich falls asleep, and when they awaken, all the women are pregnant. As the story progresses, the locals slowly realize that the resultant children are not of this world, and soon, the cold and calculating offspring will commence a plan to unravel life itself on this planet. As things usually go, the original Village of the Damned from 1960 is the superior version, but I’ll be honest: I still have a soft spot for Carpenter’s 1995 remake as well. If nothing else, Christopher Reeve’s spot-on performance only serves to make me miss him even more. He gives George Sanders’ original portrayal of the lead role a run for his money, and that’s saying something since Sanders was no acting slouch. There’s also a sequel to the original, Children of the Damned, for any of you horror completists out there, but be warned: it’s the least memorable of the group. Regardless, each of these films is a perfect choice if you’re looking to round out a creepy children movie marathon. Just be sure to keep your eyes wide open, and keep watching the sky.   

I’m not going to lie: The Bad Seed always really creeped me out as a kid. That’s probably because as a bullied child, it didn’t seem so implausible that I might meet someone as dubious as Rhoda Penmark on the school playground.

Based on the William March novel of the same name, The Bad Seed has become synonymous with evil children, especially since Rhoda isn’t even supernatural like the other kids on this list. She’s bad to the bone, and she’s entirely human.

The Bad Seed serves as a stinging indictment of the idea that childhood is a wonderful and innocent time, and it’s particularly delightful to remember that this book and film were released in the middle of the 1950s, an era that’s often far too idealized in American culture.

But the truth is that when it comes to human beings, the horror has always been with us, which means the 1950s were just as scary—if not outright scarier—than every other decade.

That’s why Rhoda Penmark is proof positive that horror can wear a smile and pigtails every bit as well as a hockey mask.