Bloody Mama (1970)

33% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
46% of users liked it
(1,113 ratings)

Shelley Winters, who once played the spoofish "Ma Parker" on Batman, brings the same larger-than-life approach to her portrayal of real-life Ma Barker in Bloody Mama. Presiding over her outlaw gang, consisting mainly of her goonish sons, Ma goes on a Depression-era rampage of bank robbery, murder… More Shelley Winters, who once played the spoofish "Ma Parker" on Batman, brings the same larger-than-life approach to her portrayal of real-life Ma Barker in Bloody Mama. Presiding over her outlaw gang, consisting mainly of her goonish sons, Ma goes on a Depression-era rampage of bank robbery, murder and kidnapping. Obviously filmed in a hurry-watch as the Barker mob drives past modern shopping centers-- Bloody Mama strives for an entertaingly sleazy aura, especially when dealing with the incestuous subtext of Ma's relationship with her boys. And look who plays the Barker brood: Clint Kimbrough, Robert Walden and Robert De Niro! Bloody Mama was scripted by Robert Thom, whose previous collaboration with producer Roger Corman was the cult classic Wild in the Streets (former 1950s ingenue Diane Varsi appears in both films). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Roger Corman
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Mar 24, 1970 Wide

Critic Reviews

Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
Schlocky AIP venture, with Winters hamming it up.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
One of Corman's campiest. Winters is in rare form -- and that's saying something.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Lurid B level junk but not like anything you're likely to run across anywhere else. Shelley consumes the scenery as Ma Barker and her crazy brood includes a young DeNiro. Something to watch at least once for the curiosity factor.
_kelly .

Had this pre-dated Bonnie and Clyde, it would be hailed as a classic and taught in film schools everywhere. As it is, it is a very entertaining exploitation flick from Roger Corman, featuring Shelley Winters in the lead role. I personally prefer it to Bonnie and Clyde, as this odd… More
Had this pre-dated Bonnie and Clyde, it would be hailed as a classic and taught in film schools everywhere. As it is, it is a very entertaining exploitation flick from Roger Corman, featuring Shelley Winters in the lead role. I personally prefer it to Bonnie and Clyde, as this odd family is far more complicated and just as socially radical. The dialogue feels very authentic, and the characters suffer just the right amount of sexual and developmental confusion to make them empathetic if perturbed killers. The Herman character is perhaps the most compelling and developed of the sons. The ending is directly alluded to in the beginning of Rob Zombie's "The Devil's Rejects". Don't skip this if you want to see Depression era criminals, Corman exploitation, or Winters playing psychologically deranged. "So Fucked Up" highlight: Mama keeps a boy in her bed every night