John (The Day of the Triffids) Wyndham's novel, The Midwich Cuckoos, was filmed previously as The Village of the Damned in 1960 and under the same name in 1995, with the initial spawning a sequel, Children of the Damned in 1964. Now, we get a series based on the concept, but instead of strange kids sporting fair hair, they're brunettes (and as in Children ..., multiethnic), but no less threatening for it.
The idea is the Immaculate Conception reversed, with a group of women becoming pregnant during a mysterious blackout and birthing entities that are more intent to rule than care about human strife. Is the infestation demonic, extraterrestrial or both? (The John Carpenter remake confirms the alien link.) No matter how one slices it, in their Hitler Jugend ramifications, these kids are frightening.
As in the novel and the Wolf Rilla's 1960 version, the series is British based, produced by Sky Max, created by David (Troy: Fall of a City) Farr and stars Keeley Hawles, Aisling Loftus, Synnove Karlsen, Louis Reeves, Ukweli Roach, Lara Rossi, India Armeteifio, Max Beesley, Jade Harrison, Billie Gadsdon, Kaylen Luke and Kimia Lamour. Advance word from the U.K. conveys that the performances hit the mark, and therefore the characters do, as well.
I don't know how much mileage the concept will get being stretched into seven, hour-long segments, but I'm hoping it'll cover the necessary socio-political/dystopic themes of the previous editions. If so, The Midwich Cuckoos update should offer worth-while food for thought, along with all those expected chills.
(The Midwich Cuckoos premieres on AMC+ on October 17.)
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