This is a strange, quirky movie. Based on a stage play, several scenes in the film are very talky and they must have lifted several scenes directly from the play. Rhoda is such a devil child yet oozes sweetness, but I found her mother to be the stranger of the two. In fact all the grown-ups are played for fools by Rhoda. Even though we never see her do any of her dastardly deeds, we never once believe that she did not commit them. Backed up by a good supporting cast, and perfect casting by the way of Patty MaCormick, the movie does succeed. Despite her evil deeds, I felt rather sad when her mother gave her the sleeping pills. What I also found even more bizarre was her mother apparently shooting herself in the head and lives. What a bad shot yet her head is covered in bandages by the end of the film. The ending, when Rhoda gets electrocuted was almost comical. Now you see her, now you don't! The tacked on ending was rather silly with everyone taking a bow and Rhoda's mother spanking her. Give the audience credit for knowing the difference between real and make believe.
Review of The Bad Seed
