The Baby (1973)

One of the most bizarre films ever made is the cult classic The Baby (1973), not to be confused with Peter Greenaway’s equally strange The Baby of Mâcon (1993). Nor should this chiller diller be mistaken with HBO’s eerie series The Baby (2022). Under the direction of Ted Post, the psychological horror flick at hand follows Los Angeles-based social worker Ann Gentry (Anjanette Comer). The action kicks in when she is sent to investigate the case of Mrs. Wadsworth (Ruth Roman), her two daughters Germaine (Marianna Hill) and Alba (Susanne Zenor), and her titular son (David Mooney, credited as David Manzy), a mentally-challenged dude who possesses the annoying traits of a toddler. That’s right, this grown-man eats in a high chair, wears diapers, sleeps in a crib, and crawls around the house. If that’s not odd enough, there’s a strange secret that the Wadsworth family is hiding, and it’s up to Ann to find out what it is. Maybe the doctor (Tod Andrews) or the babysitter (Erin O’Reilly) can shed some much needed light onto the dark situation. If not, perhaps Dennis (Michael Pataki), Judith (Beatrice Manley Blau) or Roger (Don Mallon) know a thing or two. As Ms. Gentry searches, the Baby flashes his flesh. During one scene, Mr. Mooney (or Mr. Manzy) shows off his smooth chest in the tub. Rub a dub dub! Even though the rest of his bare body is hidden beneath the bubbles, he looks good. We’d love to towel him — and ourselves — off!