This film kinda reminds me of an old strip I used to read in a comic called Buster by the name of Mummy's Boy, in which an overbearing mother forces her pre-teen son to dress in baby clothes and be pushed around everywhere in a pram, and his attempts to rebel against this crazy behaviour. Only differences are, the infant in this movie is adult-sized, and he also happens to be brain damaged. But come on, treat the guy with a bit of dignity...You may THINK this nappied bloke would be the killer in a film marketed as a horror... but you'd be wrong. The true maniacs here are his mother and his two sisters, who keep him prisoner in a giant crib and refuse to let him develop beyond his current mental age, while remorselessly beating him for any tiny infraction. No wonder a visiting social worker takes pity on this hapless creature, and so ensues a battle of wills between the matriarch, and the carer...Purely on the basis of the bizarre premise, this is an intriguing watch for the most part, with a far more serious emphasis on the case study of this abused mentally handicapped individual than you'd expect from a drive-in flick where the title is written in blood. The clash between the two women who believe they have his best interests at heart is a good contrast, and the actor playing the big child is so convincing you almost believe its his real life problem.Towards the end though, things start to deteriorate a bit... starting with a stupid party scene where the social worker is kidnapped by the crazy females, and rescued by baby(!) to the gory finale, where the film finally deliver on it's promise of mucho gore. I won't go into details, but it relies on two characters undergoing such radical character shifts you'd think the writer was sacked and replaced by another near the end who decided to reshape them in his image. Not to mention the way certain others fall into their little trap... you'd have to be so daft not to notice the danger signs, you would probably be dumber than the 6ft bedwetter himself.Lazy screenplaying, that's what it is. Still, I liked the final FINAL twist. Didn't see that one coming. Still doesn't QUITE lift it above mediocrity, though. 5/10

Social worker Ann (Anjanette Comer) checks out on the strange Wadsworth family--there's a mother (Ruth Roman), her two daughters (Marianna Hill and Susanne Zenor) and Baby (David Mooney). Problem is is that Baby is 21 but still wears diapers, can't walk or talk and makes noises and acts like real baby. Ann becomes obsessed by Baby...and his mother and sisters don't like it.Let's get the bad out of the way first. They (unwisely) dub the sounds of a real baby on to the soundtrack when Baby is around. I can see why but it sounds silly and doesn't work. It's slow (especially towards the end) and the film logically doesn't work. Still it's an unsettling and creepy little film. Comer and Hill are good in their roles but exceptional work is done by Roman and Mooney. She's a tower of strength and you can feel her "love" for Baby. Mooney has a VERY tough job of wearing a diaper 90% of the time and crawling around in all fours--but he pulls it off. There's also two VERY disturbing sequences of a babysitter "nursing" Baby and his sister getting into the crib with him nude! It's all leads up to a surprise ending that was great and sick at the same time! Somehow this got a PG rating back in 1973 but this is definitely not for kids. For horror fans and people looking for something different--in a disturbing way.

I went into this one totally blind- I was actually expecting a cheeseball, low budget ripoff of "Rosemary's Baby." Boy was I mistaken.This movie is totally strange and uniquely disturbing; and I mean that in a good way. The image of the baby playing ball and trying to stand up will be forever burned into my psyche. The day after viewing, I found myself thinking of his awkward movements and his upsetting cries.Nice little twist at the end- not on the level of some flicks today. but hey for '73, it definitely impressed me.Recommended for fans of early John Waters, 70's TV horror movies, etc. Would make a good double feature with "Bad Boy Bubby." 8 out of 10, kids.

Dedicated and idealistic social worker Ann Gentry (an excellent performance by Anjanette Comer) is determined to rescue overgrown man-child Baby (a convincing portrayal of fragile innocence by David Manzy) from the evil clutches of wicked and domineering Mrs. Wadsworth (splendidly played with vicious lip-licking relish by Ruth Roman) and her two equally nasty daughters. Director Ted Post and writer Abe Polsky present an utterly chilling depiction of depraved motherhood at its darkest, most controlling, and smothering: Although none too graphic and admirably tasteful and restrained considering the warped premise, this film nonetheless manages to be deeply unsettling due to its horrific subject matter, potent ominous atmosphere, some touches of sick sexual perversity, and a few jolting moments of brutal domestic violence (the scene with Baby being poked with a cattle prod is especially harsh and upsetting). Moreover, Post firmly grounds the premise in a certain thoroughly plausible everyday working class reality which in turn greatly enhances the overall impact and credibility of the piece. Comer and Roman both do sterling work in their juicy parts, Marianne Hill and Suzanne Zenor likewise excel as Baby's crazed sisters Germaine and Alba, Michael Pataki has a small, but memorable role as Alba's sleazy boyfriend Dennis, and Beatrice Manley Blau does well as Gentry's supportive mother-in-law Judith. The violent macabre conclusion packs a ferocious punch and the final twist at the very end is a real doozy. Mark Margulies' stark cinematography gives the picture an effectively plain look. Gerald Fried's shivery lullaby score hits the spine-tingling spot. Highly recommended.