Creepy kids are a staple of the horror genre. No matter what form they take, horror movies seem to always include at least one terrifyingly creepy child. Whether they're on the side of our protagonists like in Signs or are deeply villainous like most of the ones who made this list, children in horror feel necessary. Prior to completing this list I was trying to figure out how to limit myself from going off the rails. The final product includes a lot of ties and pairs to complement my indecision. I also removed children who were creepy but definitely not in opposition to the heroes of our stories. So, children - like the pair in Signs or Aidan from The Ring, are notably absent.
10. Jason (Friday the 13th)
6. The Masked Ones, Tomas (The Orphanage), Sam (Trick r' Treat) & Unnamed Girl (The Houses October Built)
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To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the original Friday the 13th. It encompasses everything I love in a slasher film - its simplicity, setting and twist ending all should have left me satisfied, but the scares really could have been stronger. In fact, the only scare that really shook me was the one that made this list. Child-Jason, while only occupying a short scene, is perhaps one of the scariest moments in classic horror. It makes me fear for murky water, in the same way Jaws did and definitely deserves a spot on the scariest horror children.
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9. Damien (The Omen)
The original Omen is a classic and for good reason. Despite rarely saying anything, the central character to the film is creepy beyond belief. Damien does little but accomplishes a lot and the deeply rooted anger in his eye's makes for the most unsettling movie. Damien's ability to strike fear in those around him is pretty terrific for the viewer, who inadvertently is also scared in the process. The Omen isn't the greatest movie out there (sorry, not sorry) but Damien is definitely one of the greatest kids in horror.
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8. The Non-Children, Brahms (The Boy), Annabelle (The Conjuring) & Esther (Orphan)
Gosh, what have I done here? The answer is I combined all three of these because technically, they're not children - supernatural or otherwise, but their depiction is that of a child and the scares they provide are definitely noteworthy. Say what you want about The Boy but Brahms is absolutely terrifying. That dark, empty stare paired with surprisingly creepy rules to follow, all make for a character that sent chills down my spine. Then, there's Annabelle. Yeah, she's just a doll but she is a doll of a little girl and a truly iconic face of modern horror. The doll of Annabelle definitely helped push The Conjuring into the limelight and like Brahms, the shallow stares and the not-so-vacant atmosphere set by this character is bone tingling awesomeness. Lastly, Esther. Is there really anything more to say? Just watch any scene of Orphan and you'll instantly be afraid of her icy glare and ability to fake a smile. She could do equally well on some trashy reality show as she does killing those around her.
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7. The Children (Sinister)
While not a tie, this ranking gives way to a group of children that all really deserve a spot. Captured by Baghuul, the group of kids in Sinister is so disturbingly dark that it's hard not to love them. These kids get taken and then proceed to trick and murder their families, all while videotaping it. The true star of Sinister may be the ancient demon at the center, but it's his minions who truly shine as the horrifyingly youthful tyrants. The children of Sinister are all unique in their own way, but equally scary all the same.
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How dare I combine three movies into one ranking, right? Well I did because the unsettling feeling created by each is very similar. There's something about a moving, expressionless face that is deeply troubling and for these movies, this aspect is all the more advantageous. In The Orphanage, the creepy dead child Tomas wears the most pieced together mask as he causes mischief. Then in the cult classic Trick r' Treat, another patchy mask is exhibited to truly unsettle audiences. Then there's my biased favorite: the unnamed girl in The Houses October Built. Not only does she get added bonus for having loose strands of hair attached to her mask, she also gets points for being truly terrifying. When she gets on the RV my heart was thumping out of my chest.
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