In the 70's there was a little horror film called Who Can Kill a Child? The film features a couple who
retreat to an island for vacation only to find it overrun with murderous
children. It's a simple movie that cleverly dealt with child violence that
still satisfies blood thirsty horror fanatics. Come Out and Play is a remake that is essentially a shot for shot
mirror image of its older brother.
The film is directed by the obnoxious masked man (or woman) known as
Makinov, who plays more like a Banksy rip off than the eclectic visionary he
portrays in the introduction speech we saw.
Regardless of how ridiculous the director's persona is, the
content is what ultimately matters and Come
Out and Play features slow burn mayhem that is expertly shot and driven by
a suitably creepy score. It's
fairly slow going with a lot of setup and preparation for the carnage to
come. Visually the film uses long
takes to enhance the lurking danger around each corner. When the kids finally
get to strut their stuff, the film instantly takes on a frantic pace filled
with unnerving sequences featuring the brutal kind of child violence typically
avoided in most other films.
While the movie is terrifying and effective, there's really
nothing it does that enhances the original. Nothing new is stated and the content is virtually the exact
same. The question then becomes is
it necessary? The answer likely depends on how you view the film. Come Out and Play is a well-crafted
thriller with a great score but I'm not sure it's entirely necessary. Makinov
might be a narcissistic blowhard but I dig his movie.
