Nine years after the unsettling indie horror Child Eater first crept into the nightmares of genre fans, the monster returns in a chilling sequel that dares to go deeper into the darkness: Child Eater: Blood Moon. Icelandic director Erlingur Thoroddsen returns to helm this continuation, delivering a leaner, more confident horror film that expands the mythos while dialing up the dread.
Set five years after the events of the original film, Blood Moon finds Helen, now in her early twenties, trying to rebuild her life in a quiet town far from her traumatic past. But peace proves short-lived. As a rare lunar eclipse approaches, children in the region begin to disappear—leaving behind only black feathers and strange markings carved into trees. The legend of Robert Bowery, the long-dead blind man who ate the eyes of children to “see” again, has followed her.
Where the first Child Eater was an effective low-budget slasher rooted in childhood fears, the sequel adds folk horror elements, dreamlike flashbacks, and a surprising psychological twist. Helen begins to suspect that the evil never truly left her—and that something inside her may be tied to the curse itself.
Thoroddsen leans into atmosphere over gore, building a thick fog of tension. The woods feel more alive, more cursed than before. The monster, redesigned with subtle but grotesque improvements, is used sparingly but to great effect—lurking in the periphery, half-seen in shadows and reflections. It's not just about what the monster does—it's about what it represents: fear, guilt, and generational trauma.
Newcomer Emilia Jones shines in the lead role, grounding Helen in both strength and fragility. Supporting performances, particularly from a reclusive folklorist played by Brian Cox, help flesh out the haunting backstory behind the “Child Eater.”
Not every idea lands. A subplot involving an ancient cult feels underdeveloped, and some horror fans may wish for more traditional scares. But Blood Moon earns its place by doing what most sequels fail to do: it evolves. It matures.
Verdict:
Child Eater: Blood Moon may not reinvent the horror wheel, but it sharpens it. With unnerving visuals, a deeper mythos, and a genuinely disturbing atmosphere, this is a rare horror sequel that stands on its own bloody feet.
