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The Bad Seed

Name: The Bad Seed
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Released: 1956-09-12
Cast: Patty McCormack, Nancy Kelly, Henry Jones, Eileen Heckart, Evelyn Varden

1956 | 129 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

It drew serious awards attention and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and horror fans. If you loved Peeping Tom or The Silence of the Lambs, start here.
The mood: Scary.
The pace: Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 9 min.
What might put you off: Made in 1956: an older pace and style.

Air Force Colonel Kenneth Penmark and his wife, Christine, adore their daughter Rhoda, despite her secret tendency for selfishness. Christine keeps her knowledge of her daughter's darker side to herself, but when a schoolmate of Rhoda's dies mysteriously, her self-deception unravels.

How it earned its rating

CriticsSolid
64% on Rotten Tomatoes, 51 on Metacritic
AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
AwardsStrong
Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture. Also nominated for 3 Oscars.
Box office & staying powerSolid
$4 million worldwide on a $1 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 173K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy

Patty McCormackRhoda Penmark
Nancy KellyChristine Penmark
Henry JonesLeroy Jessup
Eileen HeckartHortense Daigle
Evelyn VardenMonica Breedlove
William HopperCol. Kenneth Penmark
Paul FixRichard Bravo
Jesse WhiteEmory Wages
Gage ClarkeReginald "Reggie" Tasker
Joan CroydonClaudia Fern