It’s as if these children were born blind permanently and you just couldn’t expect to teach them to see.

Released at the height of post-war American anxieties, The Bad Seed (1956) is a chilling psychological thriller that explores the age-old debate of nature versus nurture. Anchored by a disturbing performance from Patty McCormack as the seemingly perfect child with a deadly secret, the film taps into the darker corners of suburban life and maternal fear. Its provocative themes and theatrical roots make it a landmark in mid-century American cinema and one of the earliest mainstream films to suggest that evil could be born, not made.

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 possibly much, much worse. Only Christine knows the truth about her daughter and only Christine’s father knows the truth about her nightmare.

RATING: N/A

RUNTIME: 2 Hours, 9 minutes

GENRE: Drama, Horror, Thriller, Psychological Thriller

STARS: Nancy Kelly, Patty McCormack, Gage Clarke