Zombie Child
(aka: The Child’ / ‘Kill & Go Hide’)
(1977)
review by Krug Stillo

“A powerful combination of the evil-child subgenre and the Zombie Movie”
Aurum Encyclopaedia of Horror

“Zombie Child has it all: Murderous kids, cannibal zombies and lashings of gore. Another unbelievably ghoulish offering from the legendary Harry Novak.”
David Flint. Divinity

To sum up Zombie Child in two words, cheap and weird. What do you expect from producer Harry Novak? For those who are familiar with the ‘Sultan of sexploitation’s work, you may remember his other horror productions, Axe, Mantis in Lace and The Mad Butcher. Don’t let this put you off. Zombie Child does have the occasionally atmospheric scene or effective sets to redeem it.

Alicianne Del Mar (played by the lovely Laurel Barnett) arrives in the heart of the forestry to look after the difficult child, Rosalie. Her has broken down and she is now stranded. What are those creatures wandering around the
grounds at night? Why does everybody act so strangely? It transpires that Rosalie’s mother has recently died and ever since her departure, her only daughter has found comfort visiting the nearby graveyard at night. She admits that the ‘things’ in the woods don’t scare her because they are her
‘friends’. Alicianne soon realises that these ‘friends’ are the murderous zombies who have killed everyone that have, in some way, annoyed the spoilt little girl. The climax involves the old favourite boarding up every possible entry as the horde of ghouls gather around an old mill to get at Alicianne.

Zombie Child is so peculiar, not to mention obscure and hard to find, you end up liking the film. The eerie misty cemetery scenes and some of the murders are quite well executed for a film whose low budget is obvious in every shot. You even begin to appreciate the silly looking zombies who appear like they’ve wondered in off the set of the terrible Astro-Zombies
(Ted V. Mikels, 1969).

If you manage to find this old gem, I recommend you check it out. Just wait until you see the acting of the nosy neighbour. Especially in the scene preceding her death.

Head Cheeze Note: Review is of Exploited DVD, Photo is of SWV DVD.

.