Le monstre est vivant

"It's Alive" is one of those cult horror films that I had heard a lot of great things about but didn't get around to seeing until just recently. I have to say that I was bored with it throughout most of the film, but started to catch on to its vibe as it got closer toward the end. I truly support what this movie has to say about the somewhat totalitarian world of medicine, and ended up liking "It's Alive" a lot more when I realized that it wasn't just some dumb movie with no real point or scares at all. I still have to admit that the movie didn't scare me at all, but it generated some good, healthy suspense, and the point is such a good one (and is so well done) that I do have to hand this movie some major support. It was more sad than anything else, but it wasn't too bad at all.

IT'S ALIVE (1974) ** John Ryan, Sharon Farrell, James Dixon, William Wellman, Jr., Daniel Holzman, Guy Stockwell, Michael Ansara. Cult horror classic conceived by filmmaker Larry Cohen with his signature low-budget aplomb probes many fears (pregnancy, parenthood, chemically enhanced polutions et al) when a loving family's latest offspring turns out to be a murderous monstrosity. Subjective camera angles and quick interspersed cuts of the 'infant' (created by a young Rick Baker, Future Oscar-winning MonsterMaker!) give a few good chills in this fairly middling, tongue-in-cheek genre flick.

A hideous mutant baby is born and escapes from the hospital, now it's scared and killing people. They learn that its on its way home, to find protection from its parents.

A pretty decent low-budget exploitation horror film by writer/director Larry Cohan (Q-The winged Serpent), this film takes the abortion issue to another level. A simple plot that's absurdly fun and silly to watch-but it's the cleverness of the script, that never has a dull moment.

The make-up effects and the baby puppet was designed and operated by Rick Baker (An American werewolf in London, Men in black, Ed Wood), the design looks decent enough for a low-budget film and one of his first major film designs, but because of Cohen's great direction we see through the eyes of the baby (in double vision) or it's hidden in the shadows and only small snippets of it are shown. We don't see it fully until the end, giving it a much more creepy feel to the film.

It centers more on the sound effects than the visuals, so there is more of a presence with it's nerve wracking crying and snarling. That actually helps give the atmosphere a dark and bleak feel of depression.

The performances are top notch from Sharon Farrell as the unstable mother Lenore Davies, James Dixon as Lieutenant Perkins and John Ryan as Frank Davis the cold-hearted father who wants his baby killed, his portrayal really does ground the film and brings an emotional element that sucks you in.

One the greatest music composers Bernard Herrmann (Citizen Kane, North by North West, Psycho, Taxi Driver, All that money cant buy) comes up with a superb score and a chilling main theme.

The cinematography is rather good towards to the feel of hysteria and tension, giving it a nauseating aura and good use of the baby's point of view. The film's pace is excellent and leads up to a fine climax.

It's no great feat of its genre, but it deserves merit. A very good film that's helped by it's excellent performances, script, direction and music score.

4/5

"It's Alive!" were the famous words of Dr. Frankenstein when he brought his monster to life. There was a Frankenstein reference in the movie as well. In fact, the main character, Frank (John Ryan), made reference to the fact that everyone confuses the monster with being Frankenstein when in fact the scientist was Frankenstein. Now, Frank, as the father of a miniature killer, may be confused with the monstrosity that's running around killing people because he sired it.

"It's Alive" is so creepy but flawed. Deeply flawed. I think many horror movies are riddled with flaws. In this horror a carnivorous baby that's more akin to a vicious predator is on the loose in southern California. Right out of the womb it began its killing spree. Apparently it has been born with the full capabilities to kill, hunt, and escape. Oh yeah, it's stealthy, can open doors, and is about as fast as a cheetah. How about that for a newborn.

A fantastically focused and engaged socio-horror film from the last golden age of the 1970s. Anchored around a most committed and persuasive performance from John Ryan and Larry Cohen's empathetic and savvy direction, It's Alive might display some raggedness and lapses in style, but it more than makes up for this with searing intelligence, sharp and sad gallows humour and a beating heart on the side of the ostracized and ridiculed. A fine example of what genre movies can really do.