The Baby (1973)
Directed by Ted Post
Disturbing movies, there are lots of them. Some are disturbing because of shocking gore, rape, and derranged behavior. Others, like The Baby are disturbing because of the subject matter itself. What if a grown man, with the mind of an infant was treated as a baby his whole life? Well, that’s what this is.
The Baby is about a social worker that is working with a fully grown man with the mind of an infant. His mother is a wack job that still treats him like a baby, sleeping in a crib and all. His two sisters also abuse him. There is a scene where they shock him with a cattle prod for trying to walk, yeah unnerving to say the least. The acting is really good in this, the mother is creepy as shit and easily twisted. The sisters, while gorgeous are also nuts and menacing. The social worker comes off as kind and genuine, but as the movie progresses her demeanor seems to change. She works to get “baby” away from his family to start a better life. She ends up being held captive by the family, and “baby” helps her get free. She runs off with him and seemingly wants to help him dress and act his age. At the end we see her motive the whole time, she captured “baby” to be a playmate for her husband, whom also has the mind of an infant after a car accident.
Wow, is all I can really say. I haven’t been this floored by a twist ending since Sleepaway Camp, granted it isn’t as crazy as that but still rather impactful. There isn’t any kills in this movie, this is more a psychological movie that is unsettling at best. This movie, as odd as it is, was made very well. The cinematography was quite good and the acting was above average. Baby was really unnerving and couldve been done much more exploitative. If you haven’t seen this, I’d suggest it, you’ll never forget watching it haha. It give The Baby a B.
