The Bad Seed

I don't think I've seen the 1956 version of "The Bad Seed", so how much alike or different the 1956 and 2018 version are I have no idea. Regardless, I sat down to watch this 2018 version as directed by Rob Lowe.

And I must say that I was actually enjoying this movie. The story was quite good, sure it was predictable at times and generic at times, but overall it was a good storyline and plot.

And writer Barbara Marshall definitely did a good job in setting the stage, and slowly building up the movie, right up to the final climax. Well, while the ending was predictable and you saw it coming a mile away, it was still an enjoyable ride getting there.

It should be said, though, that actress Mckenna Grace - playing Emma - really carried this movie phenomenally with her performance. For such a young actress, she showed a tremendous amount of talent. And I think she will have a glorious acting career ahead of her if she continues like this.

However, "The Bad Seed" is hardly a movie that warrants more than a single viewing, because the storyline just doesn't have enough contents to it to support more than a single viewing. But worry not, as it is an enjoyable movie and well worth taking the time to sit down to watch.

I am rating this 2018 version of "The Bad Seed" a six out of ten stars. For a TV movie, this was pretty good.

It had a good start. But then it turned into a lousy lifetime movie. Watch the 1956 original instead! It had so much more depth and feeling. This one started out with some depth but got shallower and shallower. Soon enough it was like you are watching a puddle. I couldn't wait for it to end. It was really an unpleasant movie to watch. The entire time, I mentally compared it to the original and wished I was watching that one instead. Emma and the acting wasn't too bad. But the dramatic scenes of Chloe in the garage just didn't match the horror of Henry Jones. The distraught mother in 1956 held a lot more emotion. The best part was when Patty McCormack said her couple of gem lines. The ending was a little different but nothing to wow you. If given a choice watch the original.

The book and play were masterpieces of psychological theories in the 1950s. The studios bowed to the censors when making the film and altered the ending. But this atrocity is beyond reason the worst concept of remaking anything of that era. Even changing her name to EMMA? As Monika stated in the original film's ending, "We still have Rhoda" bites the dust, I recommend everyone avoid this throwaway schlock and read the novel, rent or stream the original film and enjoy the REAL show!

Not bad for a Lifetime Movie. The film is definitely a B-movie with its overly simple cast, sets, plot, but even in it's simplicity it's not terrible. It reminds me of The Orphan. I enjoy these kind of movies, because they think outside the box, of the average film.

We watch Emma Grossman as she tries to navigate her dark impulses and appear normal to the world. We see this simple twist of a child who does her best to mimic emotion, out smart adults and get everything she wants.

The story is interesting in the fact that we know from the start what she is. And its fun to watch her try and trick everyone. The acting in the movie is poor, but Mckenna Grace shines. Somehow she held the film on her shoulders at such a young age, she has talent. Rob Lowe really didn't add much to the movie and the cheesy PG love thing really didn't help with the story. The lines were cringe in places and I swear that babysitter was a little bit psychopathic herself. But overall it kept my attention.

I'm very curious what the original 1956 film is like. If they compare at all.

Most people like the original movie adaptation because the ending is more satisfying. This movie and the stage play is truer to the novel. The ending is irritating.

I'm pleased that Lowe changed the parental gender and a few other things. Otherwise, why bother?