Rather overrated thriller from Larry Cohen, High Priest Of The Powerful Premise, that spawned two mildly amusing sequels. A mutant baby springs from his mother's womb and goes on a dull rampage. Father John Ryan pursues the tyke and is finally forced to kill it. Cohen suggests that environmental chemicals may be the cause of the baby's hideous deformities and keeps the baby off-screen for much of the picture.
The writer/director's strong suite is characterization, not direction, and in that regard he succeeds. We feel Ryan's pain and allow ourselves to be dragged into his nightmare. Unfortunately, Cohen's flat direction and uneven pacing finally kill our interest.
Rick Baker's baby is a nasty little critter, scuttling around like a crab and snarling occasionally at the camera, but Cohen lights him too harshly when he shouldn't be seen and keeps him hidden when a quick glance is essential.
A missed opportunity and a possible candidate for a remake.
The writer/director's strong suite is characterization, not direction, and in that regard he succeeds. We feel Ryan's pain and allow ourselves to be dragged into his nightmare. Unfortunately, Cohen's flat direction and uneven pacing finally kill our interest.
Rick Baker's baby is a nasty little critter, scuttling around like a crab and snarling occasionally at the camera, but Cohen lights him too harshly when he shouldn't be seen and keeps him hidden when a quick glance is essential.
A missed opportunity and a possible candidate for a remake.