Please Don't Feed the Children Review: a dystopian scenario that could happen

Please Don't Feed the Children is the debut film by Destry Allyn Spielberg, which tells a plot set in an alternate world where a serious pandemic has wiped out the adult population. In this dystopian scenario, a group of orphaned children escape in search of a new life, only to meet a woman who keeps a sinister secret.

Please Don't Feed the Children can be described as a horror thriller, using familiar tropes and an elaborate, well-structured and coherent script, although it lacks genuine horror, psychological tension and novelties. Young actors perform their roles acceptably, but they do not offer outstanding performances, something that the film also does not ask for. Interestingly, the highlight of the film is the direction, and Destry Allyn Spielberg has shown, in her first work, that he can create a product of the genre that is well crafted and balanced between moments of action and pauses, but it is still just a product.

The idea of a zombie pandemic in which young people are carriers of a deadly virus could have provided an interesting reflection on young people, fear and responsibility in times of global crisis. However, instead of using this scenario to delve into significant themes, the story stays in a conventional horror film, where the illogical choices of the characters and the predictable scares are the ones that stand out the most.

Please Don't feed the Children is a film that, although it may be entertaining for fans of the less demanding genre, offers nothing new in a panorama already full of similar stories.

Topics covered by the film

The orphans, while seeking refuge, meet Clara, a woman who hides a dark secret. This encounter highlights the theme of distrust, as the characters must decide who to trust in a world where appearances can be deceiving. The vulnerability of children becomes a focal point, showing how they can be exploited by those who seem to offer help.

The film also addresses the fear towards children in a context where they are perceived as a threat due to their potential to be carriers of the virus. This twist in the narrative challenges traditional notions of childhood innocence and raises questions about how society reacts to fear and the dehumanization of certain groups

The character of Clara represents the madness that can arise in extreme situations. His erratic behavior and his desire to control the orphans reflect how isolation and despair can lead to the loss of sanity. This theme is intertwined with the criticism of the lack of human connection in a devastated world.

As the orphans navigate their new reality, they are also on a quest for identity and belonging. The film explores how the loss of family and home affects their sense of self and their desire to find a safe place in a chaotic world.

Separation from their families causes significant emotional disconnection. The characters experience a grief that manifests itself not only in sadness, but also in an inability to form new trusting relationships. This disconnection can result in self-defensive behaviors and a lack of openness to others, which further complicates their search for support.

Finally, the traumatic events the characters experience, such as the loss of their parents and the constant threat of violence, can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Isolation intensifies these symptoms, as the characters do not have access to support networks that could help them process their traumatic experiences.

Within the plot, isolation has profound and multifaceted effects on the mental health of the characters, exacerbating anxiety, distrust, hopelessness and identity crisis, reflecting the complexity of the human experience in extreme situations.

Conclusion

Please Don't Feed the Children uses its horror narrative to explore deep themes about survival, distrust, fear, madness and the search for identity in a post-apocalyptic world. These elements contribute to creating a tense and reflective atmosphere that invites viewers to question the dynamics of power and vulnerability in extreme situations.