Creepy child’s play too sedate to shine
Fleshed out characters and scenarios
I am a big fan of The Village of the Damned movies – both the 1960 original and John Carpenter’s more over-the-top 1995 remake.
Creepy kids have become a horror staple but when you put a group of them together it creates maximum terror.
This seven-episode Sky Original take on John Wyndham’s novel – given its original title – follows the same general storyline; after residents of a small fictional English village are rendered unconscious for 12 hours, numerous women awaken to find they are suddenly pregnant.
Having more time than a feature film would allow sees characters and scenarios fleshed out – which is both good and bad.
The opening episode is devoted entirely to the mysterious phenomenon that causes the widespread collapses and it builds up really well, with wary animals, power outages and nosy neighbours adding to the unsettling feeling.
The cast play things straight and fairly low key; Aisling Loftus (Zoë) and Ukweli Roach’s (Sam) are the standouts as a young couple who have just moved to the village to start a family.
Keeley Hawes (Dr Zellaby) and Max Beesley (Paul) add credence to the bizarre situation and Lara Rossi (Jodie) is an always strong presence.
As for the kids, they can’t quite match the menace of their counterparts from the film adaptations but you still wouldn’t want them knocking on your door.
Everything is a bit too sedate and straight-laced; given the bizarre subject matter, you’d expect more out-there madness and the odd tongue-in-cheek moment.
And like the movies, the backstory behind the pregnancies is disappointing and it would probably have been better left shrouded in uncertainty.
Every time things start to plod, though, up pops a dead-eyed youngster with telekinetic powers to liven up your viewing experience.
Fleshed-out, flawed and fun, The Midwich Cuckoos is just about worth your time.
●What are your thoughts on The Midwich Cuckoos? Are you a fan of The Village of the Damned movies?
Pop me an email at ian.bunting@ reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers.