Toys of Terror

Toys of Terror is a captivating 2020 horror movie produced by Stan Spry, directed by Nicholas Verso, and written by Dana Gould. The cast includes talented actors such as Kyana Teresa, Georgia Waters, and Verity Marks who give remarkable performances, bringing this spine-tingling story line to life.

The movie starts with the Carver family composed of parents David (Dayo Ade) and Hannah (Kyana Teresa), and their children Zoe (Verity Marks), Franklin (Saul Elias), and Alicia (Georgia Waters) who decide to spend their Christmas break in a dilapidated and scarily grand mansion. Although the mansion holds a rundown look due to its antiques, the Carver family is adventurous and excited about the idea of beginning Christmas celebrations in their newly bought home which they are ready to refurbish excitedly.

The eeriness of the mansion notwithstanding, the three children stumble upon a hidden treasure; a trunk full of ancient and artistic toys in the attic. As any other adventurous child would react, they are happy about their finding. However, the sinister reality about these incent looking toys is that they have been intendedly crafted to attract any child's attention. Their antiquated and almost hypnotic charm presents the children with an illusion of an interactive play companionship, which alleviates their inhibitions about the creepy mansion.

As Kyana Teresa playing Hannah tries to settle into this seemingly unfamiliar house along with her partner David (Dayo Ade), they struggle to adjust to strange occurrences at the start. It's the children who first notice the toys strange actions, and it starts a chain of events that shakes the family's settled lives. The parents start witnessing uncanny incidents that they link with the toys found by their children.

This family-friendly drama slowly paces itself into a sinister hymn subtly hinting to its audience about the inexplicable dread the antique toys hold. With a perfect blend of family bonding and a taste of horror, Toys of Terror is not your usual jumpscare horror flick. Instead, it showcases spine-chilling visuals alongside the comforting warmth of a family bonding movie. The eeriness of the movie is maintained throughout which makes it interestingly horrific and maintains a constant environment of suspense that keeps one gripped to their seats.

Every actor in the movie has delivered commendable performances. Kyana Teresa in the role of Hannah radiates motherly warmth trying to keep her family knit together amid growing tensions. Georgia Waters, as Alicia present an innocent portrayal of childhood intercepted by the fear of unknown. Verity Marks, as Zoe, does her part convincingly of a girl who is stuck in a situation she is unable to comprehend fully.

Toys of Terror also showcases stunning graphics and effective audio effects that go a long way in projecting the eeriness that the plot demands. The film greatly emphasizes the production design, portraying a realistically creepy and old mansion with an intricate set design that matches the overall aura of the movie.

At its core, Toys of Terror accomplishes what many horror movies attempts - the blend of a family drama with chilling horror elements, placing it in a unique place amongst other films in the genre. Its story line stretches an innovative and imaginative idea to full potential, leaving one to interpret the capabilities of the seemingly harmless objects we frequently come across in our day-to-day lives.

Notably, this movie is suitably titled 'Toys of Terror,' as it takes its audience on a roller-coaster of emotions from tender family moments to sudden gasps followed by breath-holding scares.

While maintaining the essence of a classical slow-burn horror film, Toys Of Terror uniquely blends together family, mystery and terror. It's a movie that comic book and horror movie enthusiasts can appreciate, as it goes beyond the traditional boundaries and manages to create a unique crossover between different genres helping to offer fresh content to its viewers.