Top 10 Creepiest Kids in Horror Movies
#10: Isabelle Fuhrman as Esther “Orphan” (2009)
Though this supernatural horror film received mixed reviews, its at times generic scares and formulaic plot are saved by one thing: Isabelle Fuhrman’s performance. As Esther, a nine-year-old child adopted by the Coleman family, Fuhrman is absolutely captivating. She is sweet and charismatic one moment, but capable of turning into a menacing and volatile little creature the next. Many critics pointed to Fuhrman’s performance as a highlight of the film, comparing it to some other child horror icons that we’ll be talking about later in the list. If you skipped this film when it came out in 2009, give it a try - Esther makes it worth a watch.
#9: Patty McCormack as Rhoda Penmark “The Bad Seed” (1956)
The performances that Isabelle Fuhrman’s Esther drew comparisons to? This is one of them. It might be an oldie, but this 1956 psychological horror-thriller managed to get under the skin of viewers with the precision of a scalpel. Eight-year-old Rhoda Penmark is the apple of her parents’ eye. Unfortunately, when a schoolmate of Rhoda’s dies mysteriously, Rhoda’s behavior, both past and present, comes under scrutiny. Patty McCormack commands the screen as the young Rhoda, and as old family secrets are revealed, she unravels her character’s true nature in delightfully twisted fashion. Rarely has a child so convincingly conveyed pure evil.
#8: Lina Leandersson as Eli "Let the Right One In” (2008)
Every now and then, a film comes along that is hard to pin down; a movie truly unlike any other. This 2008 Swedish romantic horror is just such a film, blurring the lines between genres in ways that make any sort of categorization feel inaccurate. And at the very heart of this critically acclaimed movie is the undead vampire Eli, as played by Lina Leandersson. A relative unknown at the time, Leandersson landed the role of Eli after applying online. Only 11 when cast, she would go on to be nominated for and win numerous awards for the performance, which was praised as being nuanced, compelling, and complex beyond her years.
#7: Milly Shapiro as Charlie Graham “Hereditary” (2018)
Folks, we would like to officially welcome a new addition to the horror hall of fame: Milly Shapiro. “Hereditary” was Shapiro’s first feature film, her past experience having been on the stage. Suffice it to say, she made a massive first impression. “Hereditary” has been called one of the scariest films in recent years, if not all time, and it eschews the cheap jump scares so common in contemporary horror. In the film, Shapiro plays 13-year-old Charlie Graham, and while we don’t want to give too much away, let’s just say that Shapiro’s performance will burn itself into your memory in a way that won’t soon fade. We can’t wait to see what she does next!
#6: Heather O'Rourke as Carol Anne Freeling “Poltergeist” (1982)
Hard as it might be to believe, Steven Spielberg originally wrote the screenplay for “Poltergeist” as a “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” sequel entitled “Night Skies.” Though that surely would have been interesting, we’re glad that director Tobe Hooper suggested that it be reworked as a supernatural tale. We can’t imagine Heather O'Rourke’s performance being nearly as compelling in a sci-fi context. In the film, O’Rourke plays Carol Anne, the young daughter and first member of the Freeling family to sense the presence of spirits in their house. Her performance manages to be both endearing and deeply unnerving as needed. Even when she’s trapped on the other side of the portal, her voice acting is chill-inducing.
#5: The Entire Child Cast “It” (2017)
Top 20 Creepiest Child Performances in Horror Movies
Rarely has such a memorable cast of child actors been assembled on the big screen. With their respective performances in this 2017 adaptation, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Jack Dylan Grazer, Chosen Jacobs, and Wyatt Oleff arguably earned themselves a spot alongside the great child casts to come before them, like that of “The Goonies” and “Stand by Me.” What makes the collective performance by this young ensemble cast so memorable is that each one of their characters stands out as unique and fully fleshed out; we as viewers believe in this group of friends. And while good screenwriting helps that along, it’s ultimately the performances that make us root for the Losers’ Club.
#4: Harvey Spencer Stephens as Damien Thorn “The Omen” (1976)
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If there’s a child in film that makes us rethink having kids (second only to Rosemary’s titular baby, Adrian) it’s Damien from “The Omen.” Directed by Richard Donner - yes, the man who gave us “Superman” just two years later - “The Omen” tells the story of Damien, a young boy being raised by adoptive parents, who don’t realize that he is in fact the son of Satan. Actor Harvey Stephens doesn’t have much in the way of dialogue, but that’s what makes his performance all the more impressive. He manages to convey evil and menace with his every movement and stare. The performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture – Male.
#3: Danny Lloyd as Danny Torrance “The Shining” (1980)
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Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’s novel was slow to get the credit it deserved. Polarizing though it was at the time of its release, it is regarded today as a masterpiece of the genre. And it’s safe to say that the performances of its cast played no small part in establishing that legacy. While Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall both turn in performances of a lifetime, it would be criminal to overlook the performance of young Danny Lloyd - who was just six years old at the time of filming. He not only nailed the emotional experience Danny Torrance goes through with subtlety and nuance, but seriously got under our skin voicing Tony, his imaginary friend.
#2: Haley Joel Osment as Cole Sear “The Sixth Sense” (1999)
It’s been estimated that roughly 45% of Americans believe in ghosts. After seeing M. Night Shyamalan’s breakout film, however, we suspect that pretty much every single person who left the theater kept all the lights on when they got home - at least for a few days. A terrifying supernatural horror film, “The Sixth Sense” hit us with a variety of disturbing spirits made even scarier because we were seeing them through the eyes of this young boy. As Cole Sear, Haley Joel Osment made us believe in every single ghost that he encountered, and we shared in his terror. Unsurprisingly, he was nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions Brooke Shields as Karen Spages “Alice, Sweet Alice” (1976) Miko Hughes as Gage Creed “Pet Sematary” (1989) Millicent Simmonds & Noah Jupe as Regan & Marcus Abbott “A Quiet Place” (2018) Daveigh Chase as Samara Morgan “The Ring” (2002) Alex Vincent as Andy Barclay “Child's Play” (1988)
#1: Linda Blair as Regan MacNeil “The Exorcist” (1973)
This 1973 classic is counted amongst the scariest, greatest, and most influential films in the horror genre. But it’s hard to imagine it having the same legacy had it not been for the scene-stealing performance of Linda Blair. Sure, she had plenty of help from the makeup department, as well as the demonic overdubbing of Mercedes McCambridge, but all these years later, it’s ultimately Blair’s performance that still haunts us. Many directors approached for the project were apparently scared off by the prospect of having so much relying on the performance of such a young actress. In hindsight, it’s safe to say she pulled it off and then some, even earning an Academy Award nomination.
