The Child (1977 film)

The Child began as a project by Robert Voskanian and Robert Dadashian, two Armenian American film students at Columbia College Hollywood.[3] Inspired to make a horror film after seeing Night of the Living Dead, the two acquired a screenplay by Ralph Lucas and began developing the project.[3]

The majority of the cast of The Child were first-time actors with no prior film experience, with the exception of Frank Janson, who portrays the patriarch Nordon.[3] Laurel Barnett was cast in the lead role of Alicianne after responding to an advertisement in a local actors' publication; she particularly impressed Voskanian as she arrived at her meeting with him wearing the period clothing appropriate to the character.[3] Ruth Ballan, who portrays the nosy neighbor Mrs. Whitfield, was a stage actress who had no film experience.[3]

As a low-budget production, The Child had a protracted production due to funding issues.[3] Filming began in Los Angeles in 1973, but, due to repeated delays, the film was not completed until 1976.[4] To eliminate troubles with acquiring buildings for indoor shooting, the interior sequences were prioritized initially and completed first.[5] Some interiors, such as the residence of Mrs. Whitfield, were filmed inside a condemned former convent in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles.[6] though the exteriors of the Whitfield residence were shot at cinematographer Mori Alavi's actual residence.[7]

The majority of the outdoors sequences were filmed in oil fields near Los Angeles, which were owned by Standard Oil.[8] Among these were the scenes that took place at the cemetery, which was constructed by Voskanian and Dadashian.[9] A private home on La Cienega Boulevard served as the exterior of the Nordon estate, which was adjacent to the oil fields,[10] though much of the interiors of the Nordon home were filmed inside the abandoned convent that also stood in for the Whitfield residence.[11]

Because the budget was so limited, the actors and crew took on various roles: Barnett, who portrayed the lead of Alicianne, also served as a costumer for the production, helping curate vintage period clothing from thrift shops in Hollywood.[12] Dadashian's parents helped cater the production, serving Armenian dishes to the cast and crew,[13] while both Voskanian and Dadashian acted as cameramen, set dressers, and various other roles to ensure the project was completed.[3]

TV Guide gave The Child an unfavorable review, awarding it one star out of five, and deeming it "a dull supernatural tale set in a remote woodland area in the 1930s."[15] Jeffrey Kauffman writing for the website "Blu-Ray.com" gave it 2,5 stars out of 5 and said: "If you see only one film about a murderous telekinetically inclined lass who likes to sic zombies on those whom she disfavors, make it The Child, as there probably aren't too many others with this patently odd combination of plot points. This is another lo-fi horror offering that is really strong on mood, but occasionally lacking in narrative momentum and logic."[16]

Bill Gibron of PopMatters gave the film a positive review, calling it "a surprisingly effective and incredibly creepy zombie workout"; praising the atmosphere, direction, and sense of unease.[17]

Something Weird Video released The Child on DVD on September 25, 2001.[18] It was later issued on Blu-ray in 2019 by Arrow Video as part of the American Horror Project: Volume 2 set, which also includes the films Dark August and Dream No Evil.[16]