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Please Don't Feed the Children

Play trailer 1:41 Poster for Please Don't Feed the Children 2025 1h 34m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 8 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
After a deadly viral outbreak, a group of orphans flees in search of a new life, only to be taken hostage by a woman hiding a sinister secret.

Critics Reviews

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Karina Adelgaard Heaven of Horror Michelle Dockery is wonderful as the villain, who is (in classic genre film fashion) the most interesting and entertaining character of the movie. Unfortunately, it all feels quite forced, and I never connected much with any of the characters. Rated: 2/5 Aug 11, 2025 Full Review Tyler Doupe Dread Central ‘Please Don’t Feed the Children’ is a rudderless effort that never gets around to properly addressing its most compelling themes. Rated: 2/5 Jul 23, 2025 Full Review Jennifer Green Common Sense Media This film builds suspense and has a few successful jump scares, but the premise and the characters feel both too far-fetched and too cinematically familiar to keep the viewer seriously interested. Jul 2, 2025 Full Review Peter Martin ScreenAnarchy Starts strong and remains highly-charged throughout. ... A solid, if lighter, horror thriller that turns its familiar surroundings sideways to make it more intriguing; it doesn't spare the blood, either. Jul 2, 2025 Full Review Lena Wilson IGN Movies It’s easy to tell where the plot is going right away, leaving viewers with little more to think about than how, with capable lead performers and all the resources of a Spielberg, this movie still falls so flat. Rated: 4/10 Jun 27, 2025 Full Review Jim Vorel Paste Magazine A confused mashup of psychological imprisonment thrillers, dystopian social satire and even something adjacent to zombie horror, it’s bereft of actual ideas despite its cement mixer of a premise, struggling to pad out its runtime to feature length. Rated: 4.0/10 Jun 27, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Hayleigh P. This movie was actually pretty good. But if it effects all adults.. why did the detective and psycho lady survive..?? Also, why would she take him with her when he was bit..??? She seen what happened to his sister. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/21/25 Full Review B P Aimless Dystopian Horror. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/25/25 Full Review Rich C Film didn't quite get there for me. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/12/25 Full Review Bridgette D A great film. It flows at a great pace. Not too fast not too slow. The build is nice. You can also pull great commentary on the foster care system and how some people treat youth (not trying to get too political) Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/06/25 Full Review REALTOR R A Film of Promising Intrigue That Collapses Under Its Own Plot Holes To put it kindly, Destry Spielberg directorial debut shows glimmers of potential — and there's hope the director will grow with future projects. That said, while it might sound cliché to suggest this opportunity came more from familial connections than storytelling merit, the film itself doesn’t do much to argue against that idea. It starts off strong, intriguingly so. The first half keeps a firm grip on your curiosity, hinting at a larger mystery, a dystopian world, and some sort of suppressed sci-fi horror lurking beneath the surface. But that intrigue slowly unravels into a confusing, sometimes frustrating mess, where logic gives way to aesthetic and undercooked twists. One of the film’s biggest issues is its lack of a clear protagonist. None of the characters are particularly relatable — in fact, most are downright unlikeable — leaving the audience with no emotional anchor. The lead actress, playing Mary, often seems unsure of how to carry the emotional weight of the scenes. Her reactions frequently feel mismatched with the gravity of the situation, which saps tension and creates a jarring sense of detachment. Ironically, it’s the antagonist who steals the show. Michelle Dockery (of Downton Abbey and Hogfather fame) plays Clara with chilling charisma and unsettling control. Her performance is compelling and easily the film’s most watchable element. If there's any reason to see this film through to the end, it's to watch her work. The story teases a dystopian zombie subplot that remains frustratingly underdeveloped. It’s hinted at throughout, then tossed in at the last minute like a twist that forgot to be written. Rather than adding depth, it only widens the already gaping plot holes — like a half-baked sci-fi garnish added in post-production. “Spielbergish” in concept, but none of the finesse. And then come the logic-defying choices — numerous enough to pull even the most forgiving viewer out of the experience. A few standout examples: The children dig an escape tunnel in the attic but after it's discovered — and the little girl is punished with a shock collar — Clara assumes they will stay in the same room voluntarily? No extra precautions are taken, and they just accept their captivity? Clara falls asleep with her keys (and likely her rifle) beside her. A child grabs only the keys… to go burn down the greenhouse? Not to escape. Not to take the gun. Not to crack her skull with a frying pan. Just… fire and chaos? Guns are treated inconsistently. Early on, children are shown handling a firearm casually — one even shoots a convenience store clerk. But later, when weapons are available during life-or-death moments, they’re completely ignored. No attempt is made to defend themselves, even grabbing a butcher knife from a kitchen drawer. In one scene, a character stabs Clara in the side — but instead of following through or taking her gun, they just… run. Mary at one point drugs Clara’s tea with a sleeping agent — presumably the same one Clara used on the children earlier, which left them unconscious for hours and relocated, some even with their clothes changed. Clara, however, collapses for all of five minutes, then leaps up and sprints upstairs. Why? Because instead of freeing the children first, Mary decides to search the barn for a car… based solely on a photo on the mantelpiece. Restraining or tying up Clara? Nope. Not in this world. These moments break immersion and test patience. The characters' choices feel like they exist solely to advance the plot — not because they make sense within the world or align with the characters’ goals or personalities. A stockholm syndrome sub-plot could have been easily developed and it was anticipated with how much film was wasted to show Clara and Mary building rapport, never happened. The film sacrifices coherence for mood, and it just doesn't work. Verdict: This film might appeal to viewers who enjoy puzzling through plot holes and speculative "what ifs," but for most, it will likely feel like a missed opportunity. There’s the skeleton of a great story buried in here. but it’s bogged down by weak character development, tonal inconsistency, and a series of frustrating, logic-defying choices. Intriguing at first, but ultimately unsatisfying. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 07/05/25 Full Review BRizz 2 Let’s be honest—Tubi has a bit of a reputation when it comes to original thrillers. They’re often riddled with poor direction, sloppy writing, and questionable acting. But Please Don’t Feed the Children completely defied my expectations. From the start, this thriller stands out with a surprisingly strong ensemble cast. Each character is distinct, and the film takes its time to build their personalities, giving the audience room to connect, empathize—or absolutely despise them. The writing is sharper than expected, never reaching perfection, but certainly landing above average for the genre and platform. What really anchors the film is its villain. Genuinely unsettling and eerily realistic, she brings a level of grounded horror that makes the threat feel terrifyingly plausible. The tension is palpable throughout, and the unpredictable narrative keeps you guessing: Who will survive? Who won’t? While the production values reflect its streaming origins, this movie could’ve easily held its own with a limited theatrical release. It’s that engaging. No, it’s not a flawless film. But Please Don’t Feed the Children is far from a throwaway streaming title. It’s a chilling, well-acted, and refreshingly watchable thriller that’s absolutely worth your time—and maybe even a rewatch. Final Verdict: ✅ Surprisingly solid 🍿 Great for a late-night horror fix 🎯 Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers and survival suspense Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/10/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Please Don't Feed the Children

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Movie Info

Synopsis After a deadly viral outbreak, a group of orphans flees in search of a new life, only to be taken hostage by a woman hiding a sinister secret.
Director
Destry Allyn Spielberg
Producer
Jason Dubin, Ben Kaye, Bill Kenwright, Josh Kesselman, Daniel Ryniker
Screenwriter
Paul Bertino
Distributor
Tubi
Production Co
Perry Street Films, Head Gear Films, Fieldhouse Productions, Metrol Technology, BKStudios
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 27, 2025
Runtime
1h 34m