The 6 Most Chilling Evil Children in Horror Fiction

Suzette loves her daughter Hanna. She knows that Hanna just needs a little more love than other kids. That’s why she homeschools her when her antics lead to yet another expulsion. But no matter how hard Suzette tries, Hanna only seems to want attention from her Daddy. Even more alarming, Suzette can’t help but think that Hanna is trying to get rid of her. Her husband says a child can’t plot and plan in such a sophisticated way. Except he isn’t the one getting hurt. As Hanna’s tricks escalate, Suzette starts to fear for her life. And the only way she might survive is by convincing her husband that home may not be the best place for their little girl to live.

Are some kids just born bad? That’s the question at the heart of the novel that birthed the creepy kid trope. Eight-year-old Rhoda is the picture of innocence. Her hair is always perfectly braided. Her clothes pristine. So why do bad things always seem to happen when she’s around? Is it bad luck? Or something worse? With a charming smile and a knack for talking her way out of anything, little Rhoda might be able to get away with anything. Even murder.

No one wants their children to suffer the same horrors of their own childhood. We work hard to hide from our pasts. To bury the hurt deep inside. It rarely works. No one knows that better than Jack Winter. He’s spent his entire life running from the darkness of his childhood. But when a near fatal car accident brings it rushing back, Jack isn’t the only one affected. His daughter Charlie starts to change, too. It’s been twenty years since Jack was nearly consumed by his nightmares. And they’re starving.

Every parent’s worst nightmare is their child falling prey to a bad influence. Because if boys will be boys under the best of circumstances, what might they be capable under the worst? That’s why Scoutmaster Tim Riggs takes his troop on an annual camping trip. It helps the boys bond. Teaches them how to overcome difficult tasks. But when an unexpected intruder stumbles into their camp, he infects the boys with something worse than fear. Soon, they boys are goading each other on, pushing each other to commit acts no person should ever commit against someone else. Their easy camping trip soon morphs into a desperate attempt to escape. But they can’t run. They can’t hide. Because they are the monsters.

It’s bad enough to be tormented by a child you brought into this world. It’s outright horrifying to be trapped by a child that you’ve only just met. That’s what happened to Phil Pendleton. Anyone who sees him with his son, Adam, would see nothing but normalcy. Maybe Phil is a little too lenient. Maybe Adam throws more than the occasional tantrum. Some might even say that Phil’s deteriorating health is from his inability to say no. They don’t know that a few weeks ago, Phil didn’t have a son. And if he can’t escape Adam’s grasp, he might not survive a few more.

Twelve-year-old Oskar isn’t very happy. He lives in a dreary house with his mother on the edge of the city. He’s bullied at school. Dreams about a father he doesn’t know. And when he gets scared, he pees his pants. When the bloodless body of one his bullies is found, Oskar can’t help but take satisfaction that perhaps karma is finally working in his favor. Even better, a new girl moved in next door. Eli is smart, which is probably why she doesn’t need to go to school. And she never leaves the house during the day. Oskar isn’t surprised to learn that Eli is more than what she seems. And he’ll do anything to make sure she never leaves.