Whatever happened to Hollywood's scariest horror kids?

Is there anything scarier than a child? Not the crushing responsibilities of parenthood or the constant threat of their pooey nappies – the kind of kids who’ll be filling your pants: horror movie moppets.

The only good thing about teeny-tiny terrors like these is that they don’t stay knee-high for long: once they lost the puppy fat and grew up, these former kids of horror lost their ability to terrify. Thank goodness.

Samara from The Ring - played by Daveigh Chase

With the female star of the original Ringu – Rie Ino'o – off the radar, we do at least know what happened to her US counterpart. With the help of facial prosthetics and a long, dark wig, Daveigh Chase played Samara in The Ring, but after a lead role in questionable Donnie Darko sequel S. Darko as Donnie’s little sister, she’s since crawled back into the world of TV, including a five-year stint in polygamy drama Big Love, as well as some little-seen indie movies.

The Grady Sisters from The Shining - played by Lisa Burns, Louise Burns

“Come play with is, Danny. Forever… and ever… and ever.” Danny wisely decided playtime was over and left the Grady daughters to their ghostly shenanigans, but after working with Stanley Kubrick on The Shining, twin sisters Lisa and Louise Burns didn’t fancy the Hollywood lifestyle. Lisa studied literature at university and Louise became a microbiologist. They both surfaced at a recent BFI screening of Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove.

Damien from The Omen - played by Harvey Stephens

Arguably the creepiest kid in cinematic history, The Omen’s diddy demon Damien was so evil his name became synonymous with weird, unsettling children. Actor Harvey Stephens, just six when the original film was released, didn’t make another movie until the release of, er, The Omen remake in 2006, making a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo as a reporter. He’s a regular on the convention circuit and will stare straight through you if you ask him to.

Regan from The Exorcist - played by Linda Blair

Director William Friedkin made her do terrible, ungodly things in The Exorcist, but little Linda Blair is now 57 and has almost 70 credits on her resume. Post-Regan highlights include playing 'Obnoxious Reporter’ in Scream, sending up The Exorcist in Leslie Nielsen spoof Repossessed and the career zenith of a cameo role in TV Movie S Club 7: Artistic Differences.

Andy from Child’s Play - played by Alex Vincent

Chucky was the big draw in the first Child’s Play, but there was something unmistakably creepy about lead kid Andy too – producers obviously agreed as they invited Alex Vincent back for Child’s Play 2 and Child’s Play 3. These days he makes his living as a sound engineer, although he did stop twiddling knobs to make the de rigeur 'former child star fan-pleasing cameo’ in 2017’s sequel Curse Of Chucky.

Esther from Orphan - played by Isabelle Fuhrman

“There’s something wrong with Esther!” croaked the characters of Orphan, correctly surmising that their new adopted daughter was… weird. Shaking off the whole evil dwarf thing, Fuhrman has done everything right, subsidising voice acting work (videogames, animation From Up On Poppy Hill, Adventure Time) with roles in the likes of The Hunger Games. Now 21, her most recent high-profile performance was in TV drama Masters of Sex.

Isaac from Children Of The Corn (1984) - played by: John Franklin

Lead creeper Malachi in cinematic contraceptive Children Of The Corn, Franklin came back for the sequel Children Of The Corn 666: Isaac’s Return in 1999, albeit considerably less child-like. Franklin flirted with the big time, with roles in Wag The Dog and Star Trek: Voyager, but he’s now probably best known for playing Cousin Itt in The Addams Family and sequel Addams Family Values. Under a pile of hair might be the best place for him.

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