The Baby (1972)

83% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
56% of users liked it
(239 ratings)

TV-movie perennial Ted Post served as director for the low-budget theatrical feature The Baby. Ruth Roman plays a boozy nutcase who, out of hatred for the husband who ran out on her years earlier, forces her teenaged son (David Manzy) to dress and behave like an infant. Social worker Ann Gentry… More TV-movie perennial Ted Post served as director for the low-budget theatrical feature The Baby. Ruth Roman plays a boozy nutcase who, out of hatred for the husband who ran out on her years earlier, forces her teenaged son (David Manzy) to dress and behave like an infant. Social worker Ann Gentry (Anjanette Comer), understandably put off by the sight of a fully grown boy chewing on his toes in a playpen, sets about to rescue him. When sinister forces try to claim the "baby" from Ann, she resorts to murder. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Ted Post
Written By: Abe Polsky
Genres: Classics, Horror

In Theaters: Mar 1, 1973 Wide
On DVD: Oct 4, 2005
Studio: Scotia International

Critic Reviews

John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
'The Baby' is absolutely gaga. Or should that be goo-goo-gaga? It's a multiple-personality disorder of a film that vacillates among the extremes of weirdo exploitation, psychological horror and social-reform drama.
Jeremy Heilman, MovieMartyr.com
Exploitation films don't come much stranger than 1973's The Baby.
Lucius Gore, ESplatter
... the film has the look and feel of a TV cop drama, and a politically incorrect, outlandish storyline that couldn't be filmed today.
Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews
You may find yourself giggling with disbelief or maybe just embarrassment

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Featured Audience Ratings

Greg S

A social worker becomes obsessed with a family who keeps their mentally retarded adult son in a crib wearing a diaper; his mother and two sisters are willing to do ANYTHING to assure that "baby" is not taken away from them. The only things that stand out in this acceptable… More
A social worker becomes obsessed with a family who keeps their mentally retarded adult son in a crib wearing a diaper; his mother and two sisters are willing to do ANYTHING to assure that "baby" is not taken away from them. The only things that stand out in this acceptable thriller are Ruth Roman's campy performance (a bit like a nastier "Mommie Dearest" with Suzanne Pleshette's voice) and the twist ending.