I recently watched The Bad Seed (1985) on a streaming service. The film follows a 9-year-old girl whose disturbing behavior may have led to accidents and deaths in her community. Her mother suspects that some aspects of the family's troubled past have been inherited by the girl, driving her actions.
This film is directed by Paul Wendkos (Special Delivery) and stars David Carradine (Kill Bill), Blair Brown (Space Cowboys), Lynn Redgrave (Gods and Monsters), and Chad Allen (TerrorVision).
This made-for-television movie has some solid scenes and characters, along with clear missteps. David Carradine's performance is awkward and unsettling, and while the overall cast delivers solid performances, the child acting is strong. However, casting Carrie Wells instead of Drew Barrymore or Alyssa Milano was probably a mistake. The horror elements are minimal, with only a few kill scenes, and the film relies on the cat-and-mouse dynamic between Carradine and Wells to carry the narrative, which works reasonably well.
In conclusion, The Bad Seed isn't particularly remarkable overall, but it's worth a watch for those looking for something different or if you're a fan of Carradine. I would score it a 5/10.
