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Jan 2018
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50's Horror was really something, huh? Or not. I don't know. I've always liked it, myself. I mean, this era was sort of a resurrection after seemingly nothing coming out of the genre for the last half of the 40's and possibly even a little longer. It's almost like we were eased back in with the rise of Sci-fi, which slowly incorporated Horror into their stories. Giant animals, space monsters, etc. Personally, I love that stuff as much as the traditional Horror of decades past. As the 50's progressed, American Horror would finally be fully restored, with the release of timeless classics such as House On Haunted Hill, which probably wouldn't even be remembered today without the legendary Vicent Price. Then there's The Bad Seed, which may or may not be remembered if not for an amazing little actress named Patty McCormick. Yeah. I love this movie. Like countless others, I've loved this movie since I was a kid. Let's see if we can figure out what's so great about The Bad Seed.

image No child is perfect. Some are closer than others, but none of them quite make it mainly because no human is capable of such status. Rhoda Penmark, on the other hand, does a superb job of creating the illusion of perfection, at least as far as well-behaved, polite, and all around pleasant eight year old girls go. OK, so, Rhoda can't possibly be perfect, but let's just say she's a great kid. A great kid who really has no reason not to be since she literally gets everything she wants and more. And as long as Rhoda gets everything she wants, everything is cool. Nevermind perfection, but she at least seems very normal, that is if you don't look too close. Rhoda doesn't seem to even notice that fact that she doesn't have any friends. As long as she is showered with love and attention by the adults in her life, everything is cool.

Rhoda really had her heart set on that penmanship medal and she's been a little off since the teacher gave it to some other kid. There's no way he was better than Rhoda because he was quite simply not Rhoda. I say "was" because the smart little fella turned up dead, recently, during the school picnic. When Rhoda's mother, Christine, tries comforting her, she notices something about her daughter that she's never noticed before: Rhoda doesn't give a fuck. Her classmate being dead means nothing to her. As we get to know her better, we realize Rhoda has no conscience.

image Yes. Rhoda has no understanding of right and wrong. Only how to pretend to. We witness her mask of sanity being slowly lifted when the handyman starts picking at her. Despite being sort of a low class degenerate, Leroy is the only person who sees through Rhoda at all. And even he's only half joking when making accusations. If Leroy knows what's good for himself, he'll let this thing go and get back to work, because Rhoda is close to snapping, because her mother, who loves her more than anything in the world, has discovered the horrible truth. Rhoda murdered that little boy when he refused to give up his medal to her. She's not sorry, either. What is there to be sorry about, anyway? Rhoda is happy because she now has her medal. What else could there possibly be to consider?

image Christine is devastated beyond words once she realizes that she has given birth to a monster. And one that is already a professional ass kisser on top of it. The guilt and reality sets in when she has a couple run-ins with the drunken mother of the murdered child. Meanwhile, Christine has some serious thinking to do, but ultimately decides to cover up what has happened. After much soul searching and a long overdue discussion with her father, Christine makes a horrifying discovery about herself which may shed some light on why her daughter is the way she is.

Some films leave a bigger impression than others. Some films, you'll just never forget. But what I think is so impressive and memorable about it is the many emotions it can potentially make one feel, none of which get in each other's way. To me, The Bad Seed is a graceful combination of sad, scary, funny, fascinating and powerful. There's so much going on besides the Horror of it all that it's hard to always see it as such, but The Bad Seed is Horror, possibly more so than anything from this decade. Before Michael Rooker's Henry, before Joe Spinnell's Maniac, there was a soulless 8 year old girl, more than willing to destroy life if it meant her day could be improved even a little. An evil existence sugar-coated by 50's innocence. I have no doubt this movie would have turned out good had they gone with some other child actor to play the role of Rhoda, but it was Patty McCormick who gave her the black heart required to become a Horror legend. 10/10

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markus-san says:
#1

Jan 2018 *
I have no doubt this movie would have turned out good


I think you missed out a "not" in there? Good review.. and has piqued my interest in watching it.


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Tromafreak says:
#3, Reply to #1

Jan 2018
When I say "good", i mean as opposed to great, which is what the finished product turned out to be, imo. You should definitely check this out.


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markus-san says:
#4, Reply to #3

Jan 2018
Ah.. It sounded like you were saying it would not have been as good if the actress was cast differently, but I see what you meant now. I will make it a priority watch emoticon.


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Gymnopedie says:
#2

Jan 2018
I liked it, but I remember thinking it was a little tame (a little talky, draggy, and stagey), for my tastes, but it was from the 50s. What would you expect? I thought the ending - the "curtain call". Goddam nearly ruined it for me emoticon but thankfully didn't.


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Box_a_Hair says:
#5, Reply to #2

Jan 2018
The talky, draggy, stagey aspect of it is why I thought it was great. They acted the hell out of those roles. I also like the drunk lady's acting. She's great. That groundkeeper guy is also great. If this movie were made today, it couldn't be as classy and sophistocated as this one is. Rhoda would probably be a slasher, and that's not what The Bad Seed is about. This movie is all about that dialogue, and the emotions that go with it.

Yeah... that ending... by all means, it should ruin the movie, but it doesn't. They already told their story, so they had to remind the faint-of-heart that movies weren't real. I guess people couldn't figure that out as easily, back in the day. emoticon


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Gymnopedie says:
#8, Reply to #5

Jan 2018
I guess these movies shocked people's sensibilities back then emoticon It is due for a re-watch, I reckon.


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Tromafreak says:
#6, Reply to #2

Jan 2018
The curtain call was silly but the actual ending right before it is what I really have an issue with. Not enough to not give it a 10/10, but I would have preferred the mother die and Rhoda live. I get that having the villain get away with it would have been considered controversial, but I guess they came to the conclusion that killing off a kid wasn't as bad. emoticon


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Gymnopedie says:
#7, Reply to #6

Jan 2018
Yeah, it is hard to understand their logic emoticon


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OnyxHades says:
#9

Jan 2018 *
Love this movie, and love your review! As for the curtain call, from what I have read this was originally a stage play. Several of the actors in the play reprised their roles for the movie. Maybe that's why they included the curtain call?

Taken from IMDB
The original Broadway production of "The Bad Seed" by Maxwell Anderson opened on December 8, 1954 and ran for 334 performances. Nancy Kelly won the 1955 Tony Award for Actress in a Drama for "The Bad Seed" and recreated her role in the movie. Patty McCormack, Eileen Heckart, Evelyn Varden, Henry Jones and Joan Croydon also recreated their stage roles in the movie version.


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Tromafreak says:
#11, Reply to #9

Jan 2018
Not sure why the majority of movie goers would be expected to make that connection, butI don't see what else it could be. That's probably it.


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OnyxHades says:
#10

Jan 2018
One thing I really like about this movie is how the landlady Monica facies herself an expert in psychology. Monica loves to diagnose pretty much everyone but is completely oblivious to the fact that her dear little Rhoda is a complete psychopath.


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