Released in 1956, The Bad Seed remains one of the most influential psychological thrillers ever produced and one of the definitive "killer kid" movies. Adapted from Maxwell Anderson’s hit Broadway play, itself based on William March's bestselling novel, the film shocked audiences with its unsettling premise: what if an innocent-looking little girl were capable of cold, calculated murder? At a time when childhood was generally portrayed onscreen as the ideal of purity and optimism, The Bad Seed dared to suggest that evil could wear pigtails, polished shoes, and perfect manners.
