The Bad Seed (1956)

7.4Approved117 minDirector: Mervyn LeRoy

1956 American film by Mervyn LeRoy

The Bad Seed is a 1956 American psychological horror thriller film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Nancy Kelly, Patty McCormack, Henry Jones and Eileen Heckart, about an eight-year-old girl whose mother begins to suspect that she might be a psychopathic killer.

The film adapts the 1954 play of the same name by Maxwell Anderson, which in turn is based on William March's 1954 novel of the same name. The screenplay was written by John Lee Mahin. Kelly, McCormack, and Heckart each garnered Academy Awards nominations for their performances, as well as Harold Rosson's cinematography.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Bad Seed about?
The Bad Seed (1956) — Christine Penmark seems to have it all: a lovely home, a loving husband and the most "perfect" daughter in the world. But since childhood, Christine has suffered from the most terrible recurring nightmare. And her "perfect" daughter's accomplishments include lying, theft and poss
Is The Bad Seed based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Bad Seed scary?
Content rating: Approved. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.