CHILDREN CAN BE SUCH MONSTERS.

It begins as a kidnapping thriller, where a group of hired hands snatch a young ballerina, but when the kidnappers learn that the girl has a terrifying secret it turns into a horror movie with a sense of humor.

The project was initially inspired by Dracula’s Daughter (1936), but the connection is very loose.

A series of bloody confrontations follow; a tad mechanical near the end, but it’s a good build-up. The film moves fast and has its share of thrills, with a decent cast, including Dan Stevens as a cocky ex-cop and Kevin Durand as a not-too-bright muscle guy from Quebec.

2024-U.S. 109 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett. Cast: Melissa Barrera (Joey/Anna Lucia Cruz), Dan Stevens (Frank/Adam Barrett), Alisha Weir (Abigail), Will Catlett, Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durand, Giancarlo Esposito, Matthew Goode.

Trivia: Co-produced by James Vanderbilt.