The Child
In early 20th century California, a young woman, Alicianne, takes a job as a nanny to a young girl, Rosalie Nordon, whose mother has recently died. On her way to the rural, secluded Nordon home, Alicianne meets a neighbor who warns her of the family's reputation. She soon meets the crabby, morbid Mr. Nordon, his awkward son Len, and the aloof Rosalie, who can seemingly animate objects when she is angry.
Why it matters
A quietly unsettling folk horror nestled in rural California, The Child delivers eerie atmosphere and uncanny family secrets through its period setting and supernatural hints.
- Low-budget, 1970s indie with a distinctive mix of 1930s setting and anachronistic touches that add to its off-kilter vibe
- Subtle supernatural elements—Rosalie’s mysterious power to animate objects—lay groundwork for creeping dread without cheap scares
- Perfect for fans of slow-burn psychological horror and regional hauntings that feel both intimate and isolated
- Laurel Barnett’s earnest performance grounds the film’s oddities in relatable unease, making the strange family dynamics genuinely unnerving
Director
Cast
Horror DNA
Gore
0
Slow Burn
50
Psychological
14
Supernatural
20
Creature
18
Disturbing
17
Fun Factor
0
Cerebral
14
Survival
33
Zombie
