This breakthrough "mutant baby" movie marked the first time director Larry Cohen employed shock horror tactics to deal with serious social issues. Unsafe fertility drugs are blamed when Sharon Farrell's hideous newborn offspring, complete with claws and fangs, slaughters all the medics in the delivery room and embarks on a murder spree, leaving its still protective parents to face the publicity, and the shame. Cohen's absorbing, grisly and cleverly written brainchild provides food for thought while still delivering the chilling and often repugnant goods. Oscar-winning make-up man Rick Baker designs the baby, and the movie features one of Bernard Herrmann's last scores.

The Davises are expecting a baby, which turns out to be a monster with a nasty habit of killing people whenever scared. And it's easily scared.