Children of The Damned (1963)

This film was and is a surprisingly effective kind of sequel to the 1960 film Village of The Damned( The Midwich Cuckoos), we say kind of sequel, because what this film does is take some of the same ideas shown in Village of The Damned, but takes them in different directions. It shouldn't have worked, but it did, albeit on some very odd levels. Once more it concerns children who appear to be far advanced of humankind as a whole, but this time, they weren't the terrifying menace that was percieved in Village of The Damned, instead they are seen as a curiousity, something to be examined, and in the case of the military interests, the powers are something to be harnessed. The children, quite understandably see themselves to be threatened, and take refuge in an abandoned church, where they are prepared to defend themselves. Just who is the real menace here? Is it the children?.....or is it the grownups, the so-called mature members of our society, these are, among others, the questions posed, this is a film that demands that its audience stop and think. The themes, and the questions are as relevant today as they were back in 1963, perhaps, they are more relevant........?