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Источник: http://thebloodypitofhorror.blogspot.com/2011/08/childs-play-1980.html

Here we have a middling 28-minute short that was financed by The American Film Institute, made its TV debut on the PBS series The American Short Story and made its VHS debut as part of Monterey Home Video's Short Story Collection (where it's paired with the 12-minute short THE OPEN WINDOW). It's based on the story 'Sredni Vashtar' by Saki (the pen name for Hector Hugh Munro). To many scholars, Saki / Munro is considered a master of the short story. Born to British parents in Burma, he relocated to England for studies, worked as a journalist there, served a spell for the Imperial Police in India and joined the British Army at the age of 43 to fight in World War I, where he was killed in 1916 by a German sniper. Aside from his stories, he also has two plays, one short novel and other works to his name. Munro is probably best known for the aforementioned story 'The Open Window' (a staple of high school literature classes), but this macabre tale of abuse and revenge has actually inspired more adaptations. It was also filmed in 1950 (as part of the Danger TV series), 1962 (as part of a UK mini-series called Saki), 1981, 1995, 2003 and even as recently as 2009. The tale also inspired the feature-length genre flick THE ORPHAN (1977), which was later annoyingly re-titled FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE ORPHAN to try to cash in on the Jason Voorhees saga.
Lonely orphan Conrad (Paul Schoeman) not only had to suffer the loss of both parents in a drowning accident, but is also stuck in a home at the mercy of the icy, evil and cruel Miss DeRopp (Savannah Bentley). Mostly forced to stay indoors, denied friends and kept sickly and frail by his new guardian (who it's strongly hinted at also sexually abuses the poor boy), Conrad's only companion is his beloved pet chicken Cackler. A neighborhood boy (Bill Barrett) might have the solution to his problems, though. For two silver candlesticks, he promises to give Conrad a rare, vicious, growling and cunning animal with supernatural abilities, which supposedly was coveted in the past by Egyptian pharaohs, Borneo pirates and even Napoleon Bonaparte himself. Eventually the trade is made, Conrad gets the creature (it's basically just a barely-seen, small black dog) and - after Miss DeRopp kills Cackler and serves him up as dinner - uses it to get revenge.

Источник: http://www.theskykid.com/movies/short-movies/childs-play-1980/

Child’s Play or An American Short Story is a short film released in the United States in 1980. The main protagonist is Conrad (Paul Schoeman), a young boy whose parents have tragically died and he is left in the care of his sadistic aunt. The boy is pale and fragile and his aunt takes advantage of that, keeping him indoors and away from other kids. He is a lonely and bored boy whose only friend is a hen he keeps hidden in an old shed in the garden. The boy trades silver candles from the house for a mysterious creature, Sredni Vashtar, whom he worships as God, hoping that the creature will protect him.
“Sredni Vashtar went forth,
His thoughts were red thoughts and his teeth were white.
His enemies called for peace, but he brought them death.
Sredni Vashtar the Beautiful.”
The atmosphere of the film can easily be compared with some of the earliest adaptations of the books of Stephen King while, at the same time, the story is told in a manner not much different than one would expect to find in the tales of Hans Christian Anderson. Yet, the twenty eight minute long film is based on the short story Sredni Vashtar by Saki (Hector Hugh Munro) and additional story material written by Amy Rose Blochc, who also directs the film. There are a lot of Noir and Gothic arrangements in the story and, though the camera work is not always perfect, the viewer feels the dismay of the story. In the most powerful scene of the film, the boy and creature become one, uniting their souls with one goal – revenge!
The short story by Saki has inspired many films through the years. A horror story itself, elements of demonism and idol worship are essential to the story. Another version directed by Andrew Birkin, which was released in the same year, won a BAFTA award for Best Short Film and was nominated for an Academy Award (Oscar). Having seen both short films, I must advise the reader that Child’s Play is more haunting, while Sredni Vashtar follows the short story more closely. The latter film also provides additional details, which help the viewer understand how Conrad learned about the ancient demons, thanks to his knowledge of Latin and interest in history.
In addition to the movies, Sredni Vashtar has been adapted as a chamber opera three times.

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