Blumhouse to Bring “Something Is Killing the Children” to Life with Film and Animated Series Adaptations
Blumhouse is sharpening its knives and pencils for a brand-new venture into monster mayhem. The studio announced this afternoon that it will adapt Something Is Killing the Children, the acclaimed horror comic series from James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera, into not one but two projects: a live action feature film and an adult animated television series.
Yes, you read that right. One of the most chilling and beautifully twisted horror comics of the last decade is finally getting the cinematic and animated treatment it deserves. And if anyone knows how to bring terror to the screen while keeping it smart, stylish, and emotionally devastating, it is Blumhouse.
First published by BOOM! Studios in 2019, Something Is Killing the Children quickly became a phenomenon among comic readers and horror aficionados alike. The story follows Erica Slaughter, a monster hunter armed with a cool head, a deadly arsenal, and a tragic past. She works for a shadowy organisation called The House of Slaughter, which is more interested in maintaining the secrecy of monsters than actually saving their victims.
The catch? Only children can see the monsters, and those who talk about them often meet an unpleasant end. The comic blends classic monster-hunting thrills with creeping existential dread, exploring themes of trauma, secrecy, and the innocence of childhood lost to unimaginable terror. It is part modern fairy tale, part psychological nightmare, and completely perfect for Blumhouse.
Jason Blum, the founder and CEO of Blumhouse, certainly agrees. “It’s easy to see why audiences and critics alike have praised Something Is Killing the Children,” he said in the announcement. “James and Werther’s comic book series taps into our most primal fears, luring us into a fascinating world and introducing Erica Slaughter, the ass-kicking hero we all wish we had to fight the monsters that lurk in the dark.”
Series co-creator James Tynion IV will oversee development of the television series and serve as an executive producer, while Werther Dell’Edera, whose striking artwork defined the comic’s haunting aesthetic, will join as co-executive producer.
“Something Is Killing the Children is the comic book that changed my life and career forever,” said Tynion. “Finding a partner who understood the potential of Erica Slaughter and the world Werther Dell’Edera and I have built was crucial, and we have found that partner in Jason Blum. Nobody understands horror better than Blumhouse, and I can’t wait for the world to see what we all have planned together.”
The film adaptation will be produced by Tynion and Stephen Christy for BOOM! Studios and Penguin Random House, alongside Jason Blum for Blumhouse. Shaun Sutton and Ryan Turek will serve as executive producers, with Adam Yoelin and Mette Norkjaer joining in the same capacity. Dell’Edera will also act as a co-producer, ensuring that his nightmarish visual world translates faithfully to the screen.
The adult animated series will offer a new way to experience the story, one that allows for the surreal and violent imagination of the comic to be fully unleashed without restraint. Considering the comic’s graphic depictions of monster attacks and its painterly, haunting visuals, animation may prove to be the perfect format to capture its unflinching terror.
This is not the first attempt to adapt Something Is Killing the Children. Netflix previously had a version in development, but the project never materialised. Fans were left anxious for an update, and now it seems the series has found the ideal home. Blumhouse, of course, is no stranger to turning small-scale stories into global horror sensations. With franchises like Paranormal Activity, Insidious, and The Purge under its belt, the studio has built an empire on clever concepts, tight budgets, and creative freedom. Their involvement suggests a careful approach to preserving what made the comic such a hit: character-driven storytelling, morally murky institutions, and terrifying monsters that tap into primal childhood fears.
It is worth remembering that Something Is Killing the Children has already expanded into a sprawling universe through House of Slaughter, a spin-off comic series that explores the origins and inner workings of the secretive monster-hunting organisation. If Blumhouse’s adaptation proves successful, this could easily evolve into an extended horror franchise, a cinematic universe of shadows, secrets, and sharp teeth.
For now, though, the focus is on bringing Erica Slaughter’s story to life with the care and terror it deserves. Between a feature film and an animated series, fans are in for double the dread and double the monsters.
