It's Alive (1974)

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1. 

   Siskoid

   If Joan Collins in I Don't Want to Be Born left you wanting, go back a year to Larry Cohen's It's Alive for the better, crazier killer baby flick. Though definitely B-movie schlock horror, with Cohen you always get a lot of texture which elevates the material to the top level of "B". He might give even bit parts more character than is needed, and the cinematography is often memorable (the cop car in the sewer tunnel, the milkman sequence). And in this insane story of a mutant baby who jumps out of the womb and starts a murderous rampage - no real explanation given - he evokes the idea of the unwanted or unloved child, and abortion, but as the title suggests, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Cohen does draw it out longer than necessary, with a lot of creeping around in the house at the start of the third act, false scares, etc., but I think he knows where the malaise is. A killer baby is an absurd and laughable idea, but how the family reacts with both love and hate to their progeny, the media circus surrounding the events, and the bloodthirsty manhunt with cops really, really wanting to kill a baby, that's where the real horror lies. I just found out Cohen made two sequels, which just adds to the insanity... and to my must-watch list. 3 years 10 months ago
2. 

   essaywhu

   This film was fun although the special effects were pretty cheap. I did enjoy John Ryan as the father of the creature. His character arc was very interesting and acted very well. 10 years 6 months ago
3. 

   Prof. Lumpcicle

   Pretty overrated at the 126 spot. I've seen some great horror flicks that never made the list that are substantially better than this. 12 years 6 months ago

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