THE BAD SEED (1956) One of the most famous movies about a killer child, this classic features a remarkably sinister performance by Patty McCormick as Rhoda, an amoral, malicious eight-year-old who goes about harming those who get in the way of her needs. When Rhoda’s mother (Nancy Kelly) slowly comes to realize her daughter is a murderer, she must both confront her child as well as her own anxieties and confusions about her real biological parents. Slickly directed by Mervyn (Wizard of Oz) LeRoy, this is at times a bit too polished and stiff, creating a vacuum of overly stylized acting and situations. None of that really matters because whenever McCormick is on screen the film comes to life and builds to a shock ending that actually works. B
BLACKENSTEIN (1973) Those expecting a classic in the vein of Blacula will be sorely disappointed in this cheap howler that’s an echo of the worst (best?) of Edward D Wood Jr. After losing his arms and legs in war, Vietnam vet Eddie (Joe DeSue) is granted an experimental limb transplant by Dr. Stein (John Hart), who’s been using a special DNA serum in the reconstruction of dead human flesh. When Stein’s jealous assistant intentionally sabotages the serum, it turns Eddie into a limb-tearing monster complete with cro-magnon brow and flattop. A lack of substantial characters and situations, Blackenstein is just a series of stiff acting, terrible editing, and lackluster but graphic gore. This could be viewed as a parody, if it weren’t trying for serious scares, which, sadly, it is. C–
THE PIT (1981) This Canadian turkey is so batshit out of control you can’t take your eyes off it. 12-year-old Jamie (Sammy Snyders) is an alienating brat with no friends, has conversations with his teddy bear (which talks back!), and occasionally feeds the neighborhood bullies and old bats to the carnivorous creatures that dwell in a hole in the woods. A structural and tonal mess, the screenplay (by Ian A. Stuart) is all over the place, with a beginning that has very little context to what’s happening and feels like it should be the middle of the movie – this is mixed with moments of slapstick humor that comes out of nowhere. Yet, from beginning to end, The Pit is undeniably entertaining, with moments of such bad decision making one wonders how in the world this movie ever came to light. Add to the mix bad acting, inane dialogue, and monsters which look like cheap throwaways from Land of the Lost and you have a demented, cringe-inducing, and highly illogical flick with a confusing but satisfying ending. C+
WOLF CREEK (2005) Suspenseful Australian variation on the Texas Chainsaw mold about a trio of friends driving through isolated backcountry and unknowingly fall into a sadistic killer’s trap. Based on real events, Wolf Creek works because its basic plot is handled with care by director and writer, Greg McLean. Instead of plopping brainless characters in front of the camera and slicing them up, McLean understands the story gets more chills out of having likable, realistic people put into a pot of slowly boiling water, and in doing so creates an extremely effective little film. A surprise box-office hit, this was followed by two sequels (the third is currently in pre-production), and a television series! Good stuff, but if you’re easily rattled, this is an easy skip. B+