IMDb 5.3 2001 HD

Children’s Play

Children’s Play

2001
Drama Fantasy Horror Mystery Thriller
85 min NR France
4.783 / 10
5.3 IMDB

Marianne and Jacques are a young middle-class couple who live in a chic Parisian apartment with their two young children. One day, Marianne receives an unexpected visit from…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Laurent Tuel
Starring
Karin Viard / Charles Berling / Camille Vatel / Alexandre Bongibault / Ludivine Sagnier / Aurélien Recoing / Pierre Julien / Manuela Gourary

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

unsettling atmospheric tense psychological intriguing subtle domestic disturbing slow-burn thoughtful unnerving

Reviews

P
Penelope Davies
May 10, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

The initial intrigue of 'Children's Play' is undeniable, setting up a compelling scenario with Karin Viard and Charles Berling at its heart. The film’s chic Parisian setting provides a stark contrast to the inexplicable misfortunes that follow a…

B
Benedict Shaw
May 10, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

'Children's Play' is a masterclass in understated psychological horror. Karin Viard and Charles Berling deliver performances that are both relatable and deeply unsettling as their comfortable existence unravels. The film’s strength lies in its quiet intensity, with the…

I
Isabelle Moreau
May 10, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

While 'Children's Play' boasts a strong cast, including the always reliable Karin Viard, its impact feels somewhat muted. The premise is intriguing, with the Worms' visit setting a clear stage for something sinister. However, the execution leans heavily…

A
Arthur Finch
May 10, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This French offering presents a sophisticated descent into disquiet. The performances from Viard and Berling are nuanced, capturing a palpable sense of mounting anxiety. The direction crafts a palpable atmosphere of unease, transforming a seemingly ordinary Parisian dwelling…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 10, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Karin Viard and Charles Berling anchor 'Children's Play' as a couple whose ordered lives are subtly but effectively destabilised. The film, directed with a keen eye for atmosphere, eschews overt scares for a creeping sense of dread. It’s…

FAQs

The film appears to delve into themes of domestic invasion, the disruption of normalcy, and the lingering impact of the past. The chic Parisian apartment, a symbol of modern comfort, becomes a site of inexplicable dread after the Worms' visit. This suggests an exploration of how external forces can shatter a sense of security and how unresolved histories, even those of strangers, can profoundly affect the present.