Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things

Play trailer

Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things

PG

1972

1h 25m

Horror

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

50%

Tomatometer

18 Reviews

41%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A director (Alan Ormsby), his wife (Anya Ormsby) and a troupe call up the dead, starting with a corpse named Orville.

Jeremiah Kipp

Slant Magazine

Sep 29, 2007

1/4

Clark's first film is memorable only for its catchy title.

Go to Full Review

Rosie Fletcher

Radio Times

Dec 17, 2025

3/5

A curio, then, that's worth checking out for its place in the horror pantheon, rather than entertainment value alone.

Go to Full Review

Lindsay Costello

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

Dec 20, 2024

The film's lo-fi aesthetics and underground college project feel would be forgivable if it weren't so damn boring—it's a zombie film that takes forever to come to life.

Go to Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Mar 31, 2023

3/5

...the shocks and scares are as raw as the outre fashions…

Go to Full Review

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

Mar 27, 2023

3/4

the first half is structured as a kind of lumbering black comedy before the ghouls are unleashed, which, despite the general amateurishness of the production, pack quite a punch

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Feb 15, 2023

2.5/4

The dialogue whiplashes between amusing quips and (mostly) leaden chitchat. But the final act, a full-fledged rip-off of Night of the Living Dead, is effectively staged.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Rui F

@RuiOfTheDead May 13, 2026

CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS (1972) relies on verbal sparring to keep things moving while the dead remain buried, taking far too long to awaken them. And when it finally does, it lacks the intensity needed to justify the wait, despite some impressive makeup effects for its time.

See more

George M

@Milkyway Aug 3, 2025

I can't believe the director and writer did the supremely better horror film Dead of Night/Deathdream. This is how Night of the Living Dead would have ended up had George Romero been a crackhead. Boring until the end and then the terrible direction and tepid makeup takes any fun out of it. Waste of time.

See more

Jeepers C

@RT12312147 Jun 19, 2025

All I can say in my defense for movies like this, is that it's an acquired taste. The bad acting, plus the zombies. I love these movies.

See more

Horror fan 4

@Horrorfan4life Jun 5, 2025

This is enjoyable to watch for the horror parts of the movie but the comedy is lacking. The last 30 minutes of the movie is what saves this from being terrible. This would've been better just as a horror movie. Tim Treakle

See more

NONBELIEVER

@BLOODRUNS Apr 17, 2024

One of the most underrated horror movies ever made.

See more

Steve D

@RT35616104 Aug 2, 2023

Dated but shows signs of the directors talent.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Bob Clark

Director

Alan Ormsby

Alan

Anya Ormsby

Anya

Jane Daly

Terry

Valerie Mamches

Val

Jeff Gillen

Jeff

Madhouse

57%

49%

Madhouse

Watchlist

Blacula

44%

44%

Blacula

Watchlist

Tales from the Crypt

89%

69%

Tales from the Crypt

Watchlist

The Creeping Flesh

83%

53%

The Creeping Flesh

Watchlist

Vault of Horror

80%

51%

Vault of Horror

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

"Christmas Story" Director Bob Clark Dies In Crash

Photo Gallery Update: "Stick It," "Wassup Rockers," and "The Proposition"

Bob Clark Wants to Revisit His Old "Dead Things"

View more photos

Synopsis

A director (Alan Ormsby), his wife (Anya Ormsby) and a troupe call up the dead, starting with a corpse named Orville.

Director: Bob Clark
Producer: Bob Clark, Gary Goch
Screenwriter: Bob Clark, Alan Ormsby
Production Co: Brandywine Motionarts Films
Rating: PG
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 9, 1972, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 3, 2016
Runtime: 1h 25m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings