History Literature / TheBadSeed

* [[Film/TheBadSeed2018 A 2018 made-for-TV-movie remake]] directed by (and starring) Creator/RobLowe for Creator/{{Lifetime}}. Followed by a 2002 sequel, ''Film/TheBadSeedReturns''.

* [[Film/TheBadSeed2018 A 2018 made-for-TV-movie remake]] directed by (and starring) Creator/RobLowe for Creator/{{Lifetime}}.

* MistakenForInsane: At the novel's end, it's assumed that [[spoiler:the stress of being separated from her husband, combined with all the tragic "accidents" in his absence, caused Christina to suffer a psychotic break that drove her to kill herself and her daughter.]] No one suspects her real motivation.

''The Bad Seed'' is an American PsychologicalThriller novel by William March, published in 1954.

''The Bad Seed'' is an American PsychologicalHorror novel by William March, published in 1954.

* TheCassandra: In the novel Leroy's [[WomenAreWiser more intelligent wife]] repeatedly warns him that no good will come of his [[BullyingADragon constantly teasing Rhoda]].

* TheCassandra: In the novel Leroy's [[WomenAreWiser more intelligent wife]] repeatedly warns him that no good will come of his constantly teasing Rhoda.

* BlackAndGreyMorality: Rhoda's a manipulative psychopath; Leroy, who is wise to her evil, is just a [[TheBully bully]] who acts dumb to get away with what he does; then we have [[KnowNothingKnowItAll Monica]], who willfully ignores Rhoda's [[TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior behavior]]; while the most heroic character, Rhoda's mother Christine, is morally conflicted.

* BlackAndGreyMorality: Rhoda's a manipulative psychopath, Leroy, who is wise to her evil, is just a bully who acts dumb to get away with what he does, but then we also have [[KnowNothingKnowItAll Monica]] who willfully ignores Rhoda's [[TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior behavior]], and the most heroic character, Rhoda's mother Christine, is morally conflicted.

* AdultsAreUseless: Almost all of the adults buy Rhoda's act; the children in her school know there's something wrong there and usually avoid her.

[[quoteright:325:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/83355bc1_fc47_4476_9b7d_b89cd5be3f0e.png]]

Christine Penmark, a housewife, moves into a new town with her husband Kenneth and their daughter Rhoda. Christine has always thought her daughter was very peculiar; while always polite, courteous, and charming in public, Rhoda also has a cold, apathetic, and calculating quality to her personality which her mother finds very disturbing in a child. As Christine notices the strange and horrible things that happen in the proximity of her daughter, she comes to realize that Rhoda is the very definition of an EnfanteTerrible.

Christine Penmark, a housewife, moves into a new town with her husband Kenneth and daughter Rhoda. Christine has always thought her daughter was very peculiar; while always polite, courteous, and charming in public, Rhoda has a cold, apathetic, and calculating quality to her personality which her mother finds very disturbing in a child. As Christine notices the strange and horrible things that happen in the proximity of her daughter, she comes to realize that Rhoda is the very definition of an EnfanteTerrible.

* SmugSnake / SmallNameBigEgo: Leroy, who as mentioned before overestimates his intelligence.

** Even before then, Christine has hidden the traumatic memories she has of [[spoiler: psychopathic mother]] from her family.

* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: While the setting of the novel isn't directly stated, there are several clues that it is in Maryland. Rhoda's murder of the elderly neighbor was in Baltimore. (Maryland's big city) The Fern sisters mention a town called Benedict. (there is a Benedict, Maryland) They also use the term bay-side. (a very common way of describing towns in Maryland if they are on the Chesapeake Bay).

* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: While the setting of the novel isn't directly stated there are several clues that it is in Maryland. Rhoda's murder of the elderly neighbor was in Baltimore. (Maryland's big city) The Fern sisters mention a town called Benedict. (there is a Benedict, Maryland) They also use the term bay-side. (a very common way of describing towns in Maryland if they are on the Chesapeake Bay).