This year marks the 40th anniversary of The Goonies hitting the masses, a timeless kids-focused classic whose story was conceived by none other than Steven Spielberg. Three years earlier, his Oscar-winning masterpiece E.T. had been released, another family-friendly movie that remains one of the filmmaker’s finest. Steven Spielberg would go on to helm a number of other children-centered movies — and now, his actress-turned-filmmaker daughter Destry Allyn Spielberg‘s debut film has just been released with a similar vibe.
The cleverly titled Please Don’t Feed the Children is now available on Tubi, and MovieWeb recently caught up with Destry Allyn Spielberg to learn more about her chilling thriller, which stars Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey, Flight Risk) in a uniquely villainous role. Interestingly, one element in the script that first appealed to Destry Allyn Spielberg is something her father has often explored in cinema.
“I would say the dynamic between the kids was really intriguing,” she told MovieWeb. “I definitely wanted to make something with an ensemble cast. And it was a quick read. Like, it was a page turner, and I enjoyed that.”
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Director Spielberg also shared details of the influences behind her vision for Please Don’t Feed the Children, which sees the group of embattled kids in focus trying to evade the clutches of a certain wicked homeowner (Dockery) holding them hostage — with sinister motives in mind. “The only movies that I would watch were animated films,” Destry Allyn Spielberg said. “Coraline was a huge inspiration, especially for Michelle Dockery character.”
It’s Dockery vs. Esposito in ‘Please Don’t Feed the Children’
Tubi
In addition to Dockery’s standout turn, the reliably solid Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, MaXXXine) serves as the other adult star in Please Don’t Feed the Children. The two have at least a few nerve-wracking scenes together, as the oft-villainous Esposito portrays the law-enforcement personnel investigating the whereabouts of the children Dockery’s character is keeping locked away. Destry Allyn Spielberg spoke to MovieWeb about casting her acclaimed performers in the lead roles:
“I had spoken about Giancarlo with the team for a while, I think before Michelle Dockery, because I really did envision him as that character. And we were so lucky to get him, and he was incredible to work with. And Michelle Dockery, of course — like with any casting — you send the script, you send it as an offer. And she read it, and she liked it, and she wanted to meet with me. So we met over Zoom, and… we just really clicked. And she clearly, you know, is passionate about what she does. And it’s a lot for somebody to jump into a first-time directing job, or to work with a first-time director. I mean, it’s taking, you know, a chance on me. And I just truly was so grateful, and we had a really great time working together.”
Destry Allyn Spielberg also mentioned in our interview that her next directing project is set to be a murder mystery. In the meantime, Please Don’t Feed the Children is now available to stream on Tubi.
Please Don’t Feed the Children
Release Date
June 27, 2025
Runtime
94 minutes
Director
Destry Allyn Spielberg
Writers
Paul Bertino
Producers
Josh Kesselman, Michael Hagerty
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