As someone who’s spent countless hours poring over movies that make your skin crawl and your heart race, I can confidently say that these seemingly innocent kids from the silver screen are anything but!
In many stories, children are often portrayed as symbols of innocence and purity. However, this isn’t always true in fiction where even the smallest characters, who might still be growing up, can exhibit behaviors that would make grown-ups shudder with fear. Some of the scariest villains and toughest heroes in movies and TV shows have been youngsters, demonstrating capabilities that would give adults nightmares. Let’s revisit some memorable productions featuring kid characters that deserve our deepest respect – or at least a healthy dose of caution!
Problem Child (Junior Healy)
It’s not surprising that seven-year-old Junior (Michael Oliver) was placed back in an orphanage 30 times before Ben (John Ritter) and Flo Healy (Amy Yasbeck) adopted him during the ’90s, as the chaos and havoc he wreaked in “Problem Child” and its 1991 sequel were beyond what could be called mischief. From running a bulldozer over a trailer to igniting his neighbor’s barbecue pit and turning it into an intense fire in front of him, Junior certainly lived up to his name as a troublemaker.
Drake & Josh (Megan Parker)
After her standout performance in “School of Rock”, Miranda made a splash on Nickelodeon’s “Drake & Josh”. In this show, she played Megan, the younger sibling to Drake Bell and Josh Peck’s characters. Initially, she would play harmless pranks on them that were adorably mischievous, but as time went on, her tricks and strategies grew more intricate and potentially dangerous.
Dennis The Menace (Dennis Mitchell)
In truth, Dennis, the protagonist of the popular comic strip “Dennis the Menace“, while not intentionally seeking mischief, often unintentionally causes problems for his elderly neighbor, Mr. Wilson. This is exactly why we choose to maintain a safe distance from Dennis due to his knack for accidental troublemaking.
The Bad Seed (Rhoda Penmark)
William March’s 1954 novel, “The Bad Seed“, has been transformed into several films, with the first adaptation being a 1956 thriller titled “Patty McCormack as Rhoda Penmark”. In this role, she portrays an apparently harmless 8-year-old girl named Rhoda. However, appearances can be deceiving, as she is far from innocent and shows no hesitation in using lethal tactics to obtain what she desires.
Let The Right One In (Eli)
As a passionate gamer, I’d say one reason why Tomas Alfredson’s 2008 adaptation of John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel “Let the Right One In” stands out among the best vampire movies ever made is its exceptional portrayal of an unusual bond between a solitary mortal boy, Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant), and the eternal, night-dwelling Eli (Lina Leandersson). Typically, she’s a benevolent vampire, especially towards Oskar. However, if her loyalty isn’t secured or she’s in a critical state requiring blood, she spares no mercy.
The Omen (Damien Thorn)
Back in 1976, I found myself captivated by one of the most chilling horror films ever made – “The Omen.” At first glance, little Damien, secretly adopted by American ambassador Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) in Rome, appeared to be just another innocent child. However, all that changed when he turned five, and Robert and his wife, Katherine (Lee Remick), uncovered troubling indications that their son might be none other than the Antichrist.
Family Guy (Stewie Griffin)
Characterized by its creator Seth MacFarlane, the Griffin family’s youngest member, Stewie, might appear as an infant, but he possesses the capacity to perform some incredibly strange and risky acts. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that many of the most humorous episodes within Family Guy revolve around his attempts to eliminate his mother, Lois (Alex Borstein), without any rhyme or reason at all. Therefore, one can only speculate about the chaos he would unleash if you provided him with a motive.
Bob’s Burgers (Louise Belcher)
In the funniest episodes of “Bob’s Burgers,” it’s Kristen Schaal as Louise who consistently crack us up, not because of her innocent nature. On the contrary, Louise, the youngest Belcher child, often exploits others’ misfortunes, but has also demonstrated using her cunning abilities to benefit her family.
The Simpsons (Bart Simpson)
In each episode of the iconic animated TV series “The Simpsons,” Bart’s mischievousness is swiftly demonstrated, whether it’s him scribbling his latest misdeed on the school chalkboard or causing trouble intentionally. However, it’s his botched pranks that strike fear into our hearts, like when he accidentally damages the house by shaking a Duff beer can too vigorously.
Home Alone (Kevin McCallister)
Among the noble figures on our roster stands out Macaulay Culkin’s character, Kevin (aged 8) from the 1990 movie “Home Alone,” whose ingenious home defense against Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marve (Daniel Stern) never fails to amaze us. Yet, we must admit that our feelings are somewhat divided towards the Wet Bandits, as they suffer significantly due to Kevin’s intricate traps.
South Park (Eric Cartman)
In numerous over-the-top episodes of South Park, Eric Cartman proves to be more than just an annoying, bullying nuisance; rather, he embodies pure disorder. If we were inhabitants of the snowy town, we would instantly acknowledge and respect his authority without a moment’s hesitation.
Game Of Thrones (Joffrey Baratheon)
Is there any character from the cast of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” more detestable than Joffrey Baratheon, portrayed by Jack Gleeson? This young king, crowned at only 12 years old, uses his power in a shockingly cruel and sadistic manner. He even orders the execution of innocent babies.
GoodnIght Mommy (Elisa And Lukas)
At first, it was hard not to worry about Elias (Elias Schwarz) and Lukas (Lukas Schwarz), twin brothers, when their mother (Susanne Wuest) seemed unusual after undergoing cosmetic surgery. However, despite our sympathy for all parties in this growing tense scenario, by the chilling conclusion of Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz’s Danish thriller, Goodnight Mommy, it is apparent that we should have been concerned about the boys all along.
Trick ‘R Treat (Sam)
In the 2007 horror-anthology movie “Trick ‘r Treat,” Sam’s age remains uncertain, but while wearing his burlap mask, he seems like an adorable eight-year-old. Without the mask, however, Sam transforms into a strange blend of human and pumpkin, though he poses no harm as long as Halloween traditions are respected.
Malcolm In The Middle (Reese)
In another phrasing: What might halt Reese’s continual misconduct is his mother Lois (played by Jane Kaczmarek), who is strict and firm. If you encounter Justin Berfield’s character from Malcolm in the Middle, who happens to be less intelligent, then you are left to handle the situation on your own.
Children Of The Corn (Isaac)
In this small town, all the adults are mysteriously absent, and it appears that the children have taken matters into their own hands, killing them to fulfill a wicked god’s demands. This eerie setting is masterfully depicted by John Franklin as the ruthless head of a fanatical cult led by the chilling youth, Isaac, in the 1984 adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘Children of the Corn’.
That’s So Raven (Cory Baxter)
On Disney Channel’s “That’s So Raven,” Raven-Symoné’s character often found her younger brother Cory (Christopher Massey) to be a constant challenge. Despite being very smart for his age, he frequently used his intelligence to engage in questionable activities that made him a formidable presence.
Even Stevens (Louis Stevens)
Ultimately, Shia LaBeouf’s standout performance on the popular Disney Channel series “Even Stevens” didn’t stem from any malicious motives when it came to his numerous pranks and trickery. Yet, one might speculate that if he truly desired to cause someone significant harm or distress, the character Louis Stevens would undoubtedly possess the ability to do so.
The Good Son (Henry Evans)
If instead of being an innocently mischievous child like Kevin McCallister from “Home Alone,” the character was actually a sociopath who enjoyed tormenting people for personal amusement, then you would essentially be describing Macaulay Culkin’s character in the 1993 movie “The Good Son,” where Elijah Wood plays his cousin Mark, who is among the first to recognize his malicious behavior.
Case 39 (Lillith Sullivan)
Including Jodelle Ferland as Lillith Sullivan from the 2010 movie “Case 39” on this list could be considered somewhat of an anomaly, I must admit. Renee Zellweger’s character, Emily, a social worker, gradually uncovers the truth that the girl she is caring for is not what she seems at all. In fact, Lillith is a skillfully disguised demon who thrives on fear.
Key & Peele (Liam)
In a sketch from the popular comedy series “Key & Peele,” Jordan Pelel portrays a terminally ill boy named Liam who makes peculiar requests when asked about his wish from the Make-A-Wish foundation. With a hoarse voice, he asks for things like drowning a man, stealing a dying man’s last breath, and entwining the hospital’s prosthetic limbs together with decayed, lifeless tissue. It is only revealed just before his demise that Liam’s true wish was to make Dr. Gupta (played by Keegan-Michael Key) question the inherent goodness of children.
Phil Of The Future (Pim Diffy)
In Disney Channel’s show “Phil of the Future,” it was Pim, the rebellious and unconventional younger sibling of the usually harmonious Diffy Family (who hail from the 22nd century and find themselves stranded in the mid-2000s), who held the title role. Despite her youth, Pim’s ambition to dominate global conversations is something that should not be underestimated.
Alice, Sweet Alice (Alice Spages)
As a gamer, I’d rephrase it as: “In an underrated ’70s horror flick you might not be familiar with called ‘Alice, Sweet Alice’, I play the role of Alice, a Catholic girl who finds herself under suspicion for killing my sister, Karen, portrayed by Brooke Shields. However, it’s Mrs. Tredoni who turns out to be the real murderer. Yet, the movie concludes with a chilling hint that my 12-year-old character may be doomed to carry on this bloody legacy.
Everybody Hates Chris (Tonya Rock)
Imani Hakim portrays Tonya from “Everybody Hates Chris,” who serves as an illustrative character for a mischievous sitcom child. Raised with excessive pampering by her father, Julius (Terry Crews), the youngest Rock Family member, Tonya was known for her cunning, manipulative nature and lack of mercy. Unfortunately, Chris, played by Tyler James Williams, often bore the brunt of her anger.
The Pit (Jamie)
In the largely overlooked ’80s film titled “The Pit,” which was released in 1981, Sammy Snyders portrays Jamie, a boy who is severely tormented by his peers and finds solace only in his beloved teddy bear. One day, he stumbles upon a peculiar hole nestled within a nearby woodland. Strange noises that seem to emanate from his toy begin to instruct him to entice people towards this hole, where they are met with a terrifying beast lurking beneath.
iCarly (Sam Puckett)
Prior to leaving the spotlight of Hollywood, Jennette McCurdy gained fame primarily for her role on Nickelodeon’s iCarly as Sam Puckett. This character was highly regarded due to her admirable traits, making her a suitable best friend for Miranda Cosgrove’s title character. However, it’s important to note that Sam Puckett exhibited bullying behavior in the pilot episode, even going so far as to almost physically assault a child for using the term “aggressive” towards her. This suggests she was quite intimidating.
Spider Baby, Or The Maddest Story Ever Told (Virginia)
The 1967 thriller titled “Spider Baby, or the Maddest Story Ever Tells” features Lon Chaney Jr., a horror movie legend, in the main role, yet it’s Jill Banner as Virginia who truly steals the show. Suffering from a psychologically debilitating condition similar to that of her siblings, the orphaned teenager identifies with a spider and finds pleasure in ensnaring people much like a spider catches a fly, and then killing them methodically, mimicking a spider’s predatory behavior.
Pet Sematary (Gage Creed)
In the 1989 film adaptation of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary, Dr. Louis Creed (Dale Midkiff) should have heeded Jud Crandall’s (Fred Gwynne) caution that sometimes, leaving things as they are is best. Ignoring this advice led to the burial of his tragically deceased son, Gage (Miko Hughes), in a mysterious Native American burial ground. This action resulted in the boy not staying dead, instead returning as a soulless “zombie” who ultimately harmed his mother, Rachel (Denise Crosby), and inflicted violence upon him.
Kiss Of The Tarantula (Susan Bradley)
If you’ve watched the 1975 film “Kiss of the Tarantula”, you’d know that it’s Susan Bradley, portrayed by Susan Eddins as a 10-year-old girl, who might not be your immediate concern. Rather, it’s her pet spider that she uses to retaliate against her foes with its lethal venom, which is the real cause for alarm.
Bless The Child (Cody O’Connor)
In the early 2000s, I found myself captivated by the character Holliston Coleman, portrayed by Cody O’Connor in the film “Bless the Child.” This young girl, endowed with extraordinary telekinetic abilities, wasn’t the menace as one might initially assume. Instead, she was the one being targeted – not by some ordinary threat, but by a sinister cult who believed she was the second coming.
Mikey (Michael Holt)
Back in the world of gaming, I can’t help but recall the mischievous kid from “Problem Child”. You know, the one who bounces from home to home due to his naughty behavior? Now imagine if that wasn’t just mischief, but cold-blooded murders. That’s the chilling plot twist in the 1992 movie “Mikey”, where Brian Bonsall plays the title character – a seemingly innocent 9-year-old who manages to commit murder after murder without ever getting caught.
The New Daughter (Louisa James)
Ivana Baquero is most recognized for her role as a young girl who sets out on a perilous journey following an odd woodland find in the 2006 film “Pan’s Labyrinth.” Conversely, in the 2009 horror movie “The New Daughter,” she takes on the character of Louisa, whose woodland discovery inexplicably transforms her into a threat to her newly solitary father (portrayed by Kevin Costner) and younger brother (Gattlin Griffith).
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2024-09-24 17:08