Sep. 09, 2018|United States|84 Min.|TV-14
Genre: Drama;Horror;Thriller
Description: The Bad Seed is a 2018 American made-for-television horror drama film directed by Rob Lowe for Lifetime. Lowe also serves as an executive producer and stars in the movie alongside Mckenna Grace, Sarah Dugdale, Marci T. House, Lorne Cardinal, Chris Shields, Cara Buono, and Patty McCormack in a special appearance. The thriller is based on the 1954 novel by William March, the 1954 play, and the 1956 film of the same name. This version premiered on Lifetime on September 9, 2018, and is the second remake, following a 1985 film. A sequel to the movie is currently in production and is expected to release in 2022. A special edition of the TV movie was also released on September 16, 2018, featuring behind-the-scenes interviews with Lowe, Grace, and McCormack.
The story centers around Emma Grossman (Mckenna Grace), a nine-year-old girl and daughter of widowed father David Grossman (Rob Lowe). The film opens with Emma witnessing a cat drown in a fountain beneath her window, but she shows no emotion and simply closes the blinds to begin her day. At breakfast, she expresses her desire to win the Citizenship medal, awarded annually to a student who embodies the school’s values.
On “merit day,” when the medal is presented, Emma is confident she will win. However, to her shock and disappointment, her classmate Milo is awarded the medal instead. Later, during the celebration, Emma expresses her disdain for Milo to her father, who reprimands her for her bitterness. Emma apologizes but secretly lures Milo away from the party to a cliffside, where she pushes him into the sea, kills him off-screen, and steals the Citizenship medal.
Milo’s body is soon discovered, and Emma and her father watch from a distance as the rescue attempts fail and Milo’s mother breaks down in grief. The next day, David tries to check on Emma’s emotional state, but she remains cheerful and shows no empathy for the tragedy. The film explores the chilling aspects of Emma’s behavior and the unfolding consequences of her actions.
Cast director: Rob Lowe
Cast actor: Rob Lowe, Mckenna Grace, Sarah Dugdale, Cara Buono, Patty McCormack, Marci T. House, Luke Roessler, Ema Mlinar, Harold Weathersbee, Nevis Unipan
Original name: The Bad Seed