"The Bad Seed" was one of the first stories to employ the gimmick of a young child as murderous monster. Bill March's novel starting things off, followed by Maxwell Anderson's stage play, and later John Mahon's screenplay.
While there's some medical and psychiatric case studies confirming such possibility, the odds for this happening are extremely rare. Thus when it's put up on the big screen it takes on gargantuan proportions--much more so than when enacted on the stage.
The movie seems stagy and contrived, though the hard working original theater cast certainly tries its best. Too, by the time little McCormick did the film she had aged some, which the telling camera reveals in closer shots.
The imposed censorship changes (like the final "bolt from the blue") hurt the film's impact, while the "cast call" as "codetta" which seemed silly in '56 looks incredible today.
Thank "The Bad Seed" for such as "The Exorcist" and its spinoff "The Omen." Yes, these young "bad seed and possessed monsters" are mere ploys to intrigue and titillate horror/mystery fans, while having little basis in real life. Mervyn LeRoy's direction is serviceable, as is Alex North's appropriately quirky score.
While there's some medical and psychiatric case studies confirming such possibility, the odds for this happening are extremely rare. Thus when it's put up on the big screen it takes on gargantuan proportions--much more so than when enacted on the stage.
The movie seems stagy and contrived, though the hard working original theater cast certainly tries its best. Too, by the time little McCormick did the film she had aged some, which the telling camera reveals in closer shots.
The imposed censorship changes (like the final "bolt from the blue") hurt the film's impact, while the "cast call" as "codetta" which seemed silly in '56 looks incredible today.
Thank "The Bad Seed" for such as "The Exorcist" and its spinoff "The Omen." Yes, these young "bad seed and possessed monsters" are mere ploys to intrigue and titillate horror/mystery fans, while having little basis in real life. Mervyn LeRoy's direction is serviceable, as is Alex North's appropriately quirky score.