Beware: Children at Play – Vinegar Syndrome (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1989
Director: Mik Cribben
Writer: Fred Scharkey
Cast: Michael Robertson, Rich Hamilton, Robin Lilly, Lori Romero, Jamie Krause, Sunshine Barrett, Mark Diekman, Mik Cribben, Susann Chandler, Herb Klinger, Lauren Cloud, Lorna Courtney, Danny McClaughlin

Release Date: February 11th, 2022
Approximate Running Time: 93 Minutes 44 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $39.98

"Young Glenn and his father have gone into the woods for a fun-filled camping adventure. But when dad steps into a bear trap, the pair find themselves stranded miles from civilization, with limited supplies and nothing to eat. After his dad dies, Glenn, as a matter of survival, is forced to consume his flesh. Years later, children from a nearby town begin to disappear into the woods, never to be seen again, while adults are murdered in the most savage of fashions. Could not-so-young-anymore Glenn have something to do with all the mayhem?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Newly scanned & restored in 2K from its 35mm original camera negative."

Beware: Children at Play comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 40.7 GB

Feature: 25.6 GB

The source used for this transfer looks great. Colors look correct, the image looks crisp and black levels are strong throughout.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD stereo mix in English and included with this release are removable English SDH subtitles. The audio is in good shape, dialog comes through clearly and everything sounds balanced.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an archival interview with director Mik Cribben (3 minutes 54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a new interview with Mik Cribben (15 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), a making-of documentary featuring interviews with the cast and crew titled Why I Don’t Have Children (51 minutes 6 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an audio commentary with Mik Cribben, reversible cover art and an embossed slipcover limited to 5,000 units.

Summary:

When one thinks of Troma Entertainment, there is a certain type of cinema that you expect. Many of the elements associated with Troma Entertainment can be found in Beware: Children at Play. That said, it is a film that was completed before Troma Entertainment became involved in its release, making it a Troma film in name only. 

Children at Play is a backwoods horror film that features suspicious locales and cannibal children. The premise has many similarities to Children of the Corn. Most notably, evil children and religion.

From its opening moments, it becomes clear that what's about to unfold is absurd. And though the narrative does a good job of moving things forward, let's be honest, the moments of cannibalism are the only area where Beware: Children at Play comes out ahead.

From a production standpoint, Beware: Children at Play has all the elements that are associated with low-budget horror cinema. The acting is wooden, the dialog is deliriously awful, and the special effects are best described as crude. That said, Beware: Children at Play is the type of film that you will either loathe or enjoy for all the wrong reasons.

Beware: Children at Play gets a stellar release from Vinegar Syndrome that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and an assortment of insightful extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer