Director – Christopher Moore (Triggered, Blessed are the Children)
Starring – Meredith Mohler (Triggered, A Stranger Among the Living), Lewis Hines (Mimi: Blood Thicker Than Water, Just Say That), and Jo-Ann Robinson (Scalps, The Devil Dolls)
Release Date – 2022
Rating – 3.5/5
Several years ago an aspiring filmmaker reached out for me to review his no budget horror feature. The film, Perversion, was not one that I cared for but there was certain aspects of the film that I did like. This was his first feature film but he had previously worked on an extremely fun YouTube review series and a short. Some time passed and Christopher reached out to review his newest horror feature Blessed Are the Children. I love religious horror and couldn’t wait to see it.
Just to be clear, when I say I love religious horror I mean horror films that follow religious extremists that take quotes from the bible literally. Blessed Are the Children was fantastic so when Christopher hit me up later to review his politically charged horror film Triggered I couldn’t say no. This has become a trend between us because when he asked me yet again to review his newest film Children of Sin I knew I couldn’t say no. Like always I want to thank Christopher for allowing Horror Society and myself the opportunity to check out your hard work.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows the young Emma (Mohler) and her brother Jackson (Hines) who are sent to a religious home by their abusive and strict step-father. The den mother, Mary Esther (Robinson), is dedicated to her faith and turning around the lives of those under her care. However, when the youths show no willingness to change she turns to deadly means to save their souls. When Emma and Jackson uncover the home’s dark secret they must fight to survive the house that the lord did not build. **Spoiler Alert**
Children of Sin is the perfect example of why I love religious centered horror tales. When a horror film dives into the bible to give us “retellings” of fictiticious scenarios from the book in a modern setting I often find myself rolling my eyes through most of it. These Kirk Cameron clones are fucking dull and cringy for the most part. However, films that take religious fanatics and shows the real dangers of mental illness and how far fanatics will go. Movies like Gold Told Me To, Se7en and Moore’s Blessed Are the Children are great religious horror films and he should be proud of Children of Sin. It’s another fantastic example of how the mentally ill and disturbed succumb to religion as a way to cope with their instabilities.
The acting in this one is fantastic. Mohler and Hines are great together as siblings. Their interactions between one another feel genuine and is not forced at all. Mohler was the lead in Moore’s film Triggered and she does not disappoint in either. We also get a fun role from the director himself who has made cameo appearances in several of his films. I really liked his character here and how it fit into the film. In my opinion, the real star of the show is Jo-Ann Robinson who plays the evil Mary Esther. I absolutely loved this character and how she was written. She does a fantastic job with her performance and really impressed me with her character. Honestly, I need more of this character and soon.
The story for this one reminds me of a modern indie horror spin on those classic early 80s made for television thrillers. We follow two teens who have their own issues who is sent to a home to find a better path than the one they are on. However, lurking in the home that is supposed to be their salvation is their end. I could see this story being inspired by those early 80s made for television films or paperbacks from the same time. I loved it. It has great pacing, fantastic dialogue, and amazing characters. I think that Moore has a hit on his hands here.
Finally, the film doesn’t shy away from the red stuff. We get several themed deaths that look great. We get a lot of blood and decent enough effects that make the kills work but those looking for some seriously brutal and gory kills will be very disappointed. However, I had fun with them and they worked very well for the film. Overall, Children of Sin is another fantastic indie horror film from a young filmmaker that I truly believes deserves your attention. I highly recommend this one along with his films Triggered and Blessed Are the Children.
