The Children

John Freemont is a devoted husband and father who fights to protect his wife Cathy and their unborn child as the town erupts into chaos. He grapples with fear and loss, trying to keep his family safe from the transformed children roaming the streets. His resolve drives the action, even as he faces grim, heart-wrenching choices.

Cathy Freemont is pregnant and becomes a central figure in protecting her family. She navigates the threat with practical caution and fierce maternal instinct, pushing John to act decisively. Her courage under pressure sustains the family as danger closes in.

Billy Hart is the town sheriff who attempts to maintain order amid chaos, organizing a roadblock and confronting the transformed children. He wields a sword-like weapon in a desperate bid to stop the threat, illustrating courage in a failing system. His fate underscores the personal cost of the crisis.

Deputy Harry Timmons is called to radio for help and coordination, but he is swiftly overwhelmed by the unfolding nightmare. His brief, tense role highlights the limits of authority in a rapidly spiraling emergency. His death marks the collapse of organized resistance in the early stages.

Janet Shore appears as a dazed child who is the first to reveal the transformation. She gradually becomes a zombie during the ride home, symbolizing the creeping horror of the outbreak. Her painful progression from confusion to violence sets the tone for the town’s crisis.

Paul MacKenzie is one of the transformed children who attacks adults. His dismemberment and the grotesque turning of his nails reflect the uncanny horror of the infection. His struggle culminates in a dramatic, painful death that underscores the severity of the outbreak.

Ellen Chandler is another child-turned-threat who breaks through a window, ultimately losing her hand and life in the confrontation. Her arc emphasizes the irreversible physical costs of the infection and the personal losses suffered by the adults trying to protect the town.

Tommy Button is part of the trio of transformed children who converge at the barn. He remains a threat until the final confrontation, illustrating the persistence and collective danger posed by the outbreak. His actions, alongside Janet and Paul, demonstrate the spread of horror through a community.

Jenny Freemont is another transformed child who pleads with John before being hunted down. Her appearance is a stark reminder of the innocence lost to the infection and the brutal reality of the survivors’ fight for safety.

Molly is the dispatcher who momentarily externalizes the horror by hugging the zombies outside the general store. Her fatal end—roasted to death while her screams echo through the radio—embodies the unstoppable reach of the threat and the peril faced by those trying to aid others.