Nancy Kelly,
Patty McCormack,
Henry Jones,
Eileen Heckart,
Evelyn Varden
... see more 
Can evil be inherited? That's the question posed by Maxwell Anderson in his stage play The Bad Seed. This 1956 film adaptation stars many actors from the Broadway version, including Nancy Kelly, Patty... read more
DVD Release Date: August 10, 2004
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Stats: 662 reviews
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Flixster Reviews (662)
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November 23, 2011"Now there's a little ray of sunshine, that one."
An occasionally riveting movie from the 50's about a sunny, charming, sociopathic little girl and her mother's desperate attempts to protect her and hide her nature. The Bad Seed sometimes makes the mistake of focusing too much o... read more -
May 20, 2011The Bad Seed is second to only The Omen when it comes to evil child horror films. Patty McCormack is amazing as the evil but deceptively sweet little girl Rhoda. But my favorite performance of the movie came from Henry Jones as the janitor who sees through Rhoda's sweet demeanor.... read more
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November 11, 2010I love this movie it's a dark comedy and a horror movie based on a play. It's very interesting.
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October 25, 2009Considering Mervyn LeRoy was handed a small budget, a mediocre cast and an uninspired screenplay, this isn't a bad film. Not much here that's 'scary' but Patty McCormack's rendition of the psychopathic little girl rates about a 7 on the creep-o-meter.
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April 7, 2009A True Masterpiece. The Very Best Evil Child Movie ever mad, far better them Oman or anything else that has evil kids in it. Hard to believe that somewhere deep behind the scenes that Alfred Hitchcock didn't have a hand in making this movie. The little girl Rhoda who is played by... read more
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December 12, 2007Relased 1956? But I remember watching this on the Hallmark Channel and it didnt seem that old, and as far as I can remember she wasnt the girl in the movie but it had the same plot.
WIKI: Film versions
The play was adapted by John Lee Mahin for the screenplay of a 1956 movie ... read more -
September 19, 2007Stage bound and some of the acting is very florid but still a fascinating examination of evil.
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June 24, 2007If you ever needed proof that to spare the rod spoils the child, this is it! Based on Maxwell Anderson's play, this picture was the inspiration for 1994's "The Good Son".
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March 11, 2007Why do they remake classics like this? There's the horrific 1985 TV remake, and then another one in the pipes for 2007. Seriously, why bother? People are just going to laugh at you. Look at The Omen.
Anyway...Patty McCormick. 'Nuff said.
Critic Reviews
July 18, 2011
TIME Magazine
October 23, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety
This melodrama about a child with an inbred talent for homicide is pretty unpleasant stuff on its own. Full Review
March 25, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Mervyn LeRoy, who produced and directed, has lost a great deal of the bite of the play. Full Review
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Overlong, stiff, and about as suspenseful as a detergent commercial. Full Review
October 31, 2011
Matthew Sorrento, Film Threat
The 'secret' villain is the missing father - or we should say, the mother for trying to child-rear by herself ... The bad seed is dead - but single parents, be warned. Full Review
October 14, 2011
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
The dark drama that launched a genre of evil-kid movies. [Blu-ray] Full Review
October 1, 2011
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...it's hard now to see what all the fuss was about. Full Review
July 18, 2011
TV Guide's Movie Guide
An erratic but compelling film that lingers long after the fade-out. Full Review
August 14, 2007
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Excellent, chilling classic with McCormack as perfect demon child.
January 26, 2006
Time Out
1956 was way too soon for an unfettered treatment of the central premise. Full Review
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The Bad Seed
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