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Think children are always sweet and innocent and never the bad guys? Think again. For the last six decades, we’ve had movies featuring conniving, sneaky, sometimes downright dangerous kiddies who have stopped at nothing to get their way. If you think you’ve seen a terrible temper tantrum, rest assured you’ve never encountered kids like these villains, whose terrible twos lasted well past their toddler days.
Rhoda Penmark, 'The Bad Seed' (1956)
Little kids can be spoiled brats, always coveting the possessions of their classmates. But most of them don’t resort to murder in order to get what they want. Rhoda Penmark, on the other hand, set the standard for evil kids in Mervyn LeRoy’s classic thriller. After losing a penmanship competition to her classmate Claude, Rhoda pushes him into a lake where he drowns. Rhoda’s mother discovers her daughter’s sociopathic behavior, and is worried that its root is in her own DNA. The film was nominated for four Oscars, including one for its young star, Patty McCormack. [Where to stream The Bad Seed]
The Children, 'Village of the Damned' (1960)
On one mysterious night, all of the residents of a sleepy British hamlet falls unconscious. Two months later, all of the women discover they’re pregnant. Three years later, the children — who all look alike, have platinum blond hair, and have aged at a rapid pace — begin to worry the adult residents, who have noticed that their kids are telepathic and exhibit no conscience. Oh, and they have a tendency to kill any adult who stands in their way. [Where to stream Village of the Damned]
Regan MacNeil, 'The Exorcist' (1973)
Little Regan MacNeil is a perfectly sweet twelve-year-old — that is until she becomes possessed by a demon, turning into a foul-mouthed, lecherous, brutal being. While her penchant for vomit spewing, head twisting, and violent masturbation is definitely a turn-off, it’s her habit of throwing men down a flight of concrete stairs that’s perhaps the most disturbing. [Where to stream The Exorcist]
Damien Thorn, 'The Omen' (1976)
When his young son dies in childbirth, an American diplomat secretly adopts an orphan without telling his wife that their new baby isn’t really theirs. (Pro-tip for dads: don’t do this.) As little Damien grows up, however, strange things begin to happen. Oh, you know, the usual stuff: animals are afraid of him, his nanny is driven to suicide, and priests who cross him are impaled with lightning rods. Spoiler alert: Damien is THE ANTICHRIST. [Where to stream The Omen]
The Gaitlin Children, 'Children of the Corn' (1984)
Stephen King’s short story got the big-screen treatment in a campy B-movie that spawned countless sequels. When a couple driving across country strike a young boy with their car outside the small town of Gatlin, Nebraska, they try to find his parents. Only it turns out that there are no parents to be found, as the children of Gatlin, under the leadership of a insane and terrifying boy preacher named Isaac, have overtaken the town and sacrificed the adults to ensure a yearly corn harvest. [Where to stream Children of the Corn]
Gage Creed, 'Pet Sematary' (1989)
Like in The Omen, the evil kid in Pet Sematary probably wouldn’t have had a chance if his dad didn’t do something really stupid. After discovering that the Indian burial ground behind his house has the power of resurrecting the dead, the hapless Louis Creed buries his little son Gage there after he’s hit by a car. And, naturally, things do not turn out so well for the Creed family. [Where to stream Pet Sematary]
Henry Evans, 'The Good Son' (1993)
Think the adorable Macaulay Culkin was cute all of the time? Then revisit his turn as the psychopathic pre-teen Henry in this sleeper hit written by novelist Ian McEwan. When he goes to live with his cousin’s family, Mark (played by Elijah Wood) begins to suspect that little cousin Henry is a crazy kid who murdered his baby brother — and is trying to do the same to his little sister. [Where to stream The Good Son]
Eli, 'Let the Right One In' (2008)
In this Swedish romantic thriller, the meek and shy young Oskar experiences his first love at the age of twelve when he meets the mysterious little girl next door, Eli. There’s only one small problem: Eli is a vampire. But hey, that doesn’t mean she’s completely bad. She does help Oskar stick up for himself against his bullies… although that involves Eli murdering them. [Where to stream Let the Right One In]
Esther Coleman, 'Orphan' (2009)
If you don’t know the twist ending yet, let’s just say that the young Esther technically fits in here. After all, she is adopted by John and Kate Coleman and join their small family after their child is stillborn. But Esther has some secrets, which slowly reveal themselves as she clashes with their two kids and makes some moves on John. Kate learns Esther’s true nature as she risks her own life trying to protect her family from its newest member. [Where to stream Orphan]
Kevin Khatchadourian, 'We Need to Talk About Kevin' (2011)
Told through flashbacks, Lynne Ramsay’s arresting psychological thriller follows a woman (Tilda Swinton) coming to terms with her son Kevin’s horrible deeds — namely, a school shooting. Plagued with his sociopathic behavior all of his life, Eva faces the wrath of her community, who blames his actions on her inabilities and inadequacies as a mother. But she — and we — know for sure: Kevin was purely awful. [Where to stream We Need to Talk About Kevin]
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