The Bad Seed. Poster of the 1985 movie and cover of the 1954 book
VS3
The Bad Seed
William March, 1954
movie vs book
Paul Wendkos, 1985

Nine-year-old Rhoda is the only child of Kenneth and Christine Penmark. Kenneth Penmark goes away on business, leaving Christine and Rhoda at home. Christine begins to notice that Rhoda is acting strangely after one of her classmates mysteriously dies, and eventually makes a horrible discovery: Rhoda killed the boy, and will almost certainly kill again.


The Bad Seed. Poster of the 1985 movie and cover of the 1956 book, Bad Seed
VS3
Bad Seed
Maxwell Anderson, 1956
movie vs book
Paul Wendkos, 1985

Nine-year-old Rhoda is the only child of Kenneth and Christine Penmark. Kenneth Penmark goes away on business, leaving Christine and Rhoda at home. Christine begins to notice that Rhoda is acting strangely after one of her classmates mysteriously dies, and eventually makes a horrible discovery: Rhoda killed the boy, and will almost certainly kill again.