A killer baby movie sounds like pure midnight schlock until you actually sit with what It’s Alive (1974) is poking at. We’re Omari Williams and Jay Richardson, and we take on Larry Cohen’s science fiction horror oddity with the kind of honest back-and-forth this film dares you to have: why is everyone so instantly ready to kill the newborn, and what does that say about fear, responsibility, and the way society treats “problems” it can’t explain?
We talk through the full ride, from the too-chill trip to the hospital to the massacre, the manhunt, and the moments where the movie accidentally becomes a different kind of horror altogether. Along the way we dig into the uncomfortable subtext: postpartum trauma, parental shame, media exposure, and a big pharma flavored thread about drugs, testing, and consequences. We also give credit where it’s due, because Bernard Herrmann’s score does serious heavy lifting, and Rick Baker’s creature design helps make a low budget horror movie feel iconic even when the visuals get wobbly.
Then we put it on the board and rate It’s Alive across our five categories: plot and writing, acting and casting, production and visuals, music and sound, and cultural impact. If you’re into classic 70s horror, creature features, or movie podcast reviews that don’t dodge the weird parts, this one’s for you.
Shoutout and birthday wishes to Omari's dad who just celebrated his 74th birthday!
Subscribe for more decade-old film reviews, share the episode with a horror fan, and leave a rating or review so more listeners can find us.
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Follow us on the following social media platforms or email us at reeltalkbanter@gmail.com!
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube
TikTok