It Lives Again
release year: 1978
genre: horror/drama
viewing setting: home DVD, 11/23/04
synopsis: As more mutant killer babies are born, the government tries to kill them at birth, but a few are saved by sympathetic parties and whisked away to a secret location for protection and study.
impressions: Like the first movie, this one continues to walk the line between mutant-killer-baby action and the human-drama side of things. The government, depicted here as an all-seeing, all-powerful nonsympathetic party, wants the babies killed on sight. Another group, including the father from the first movie, wants to save the babies. The problem, of course, is that the babies are ultimately unpredictable, which can be rough when they've got claws and teeth that can easily kill an adult.
body count: 3 humans, 1 coyote and 1 dog (both offscreen) plus 3 more humans wounded
things to watch for: aquatic mutant killer baby attack
something this movie has that no other movie has: THREE murderous mutant babies, working together
acting: John Ryan reprises his role from the first film, and gives another good performance which is ultimately wasted, in my opinion. James Dixon is also back as the police chief who's branded an expert because he helped hunt down the original baby. Frederic Forrest does a good job as the new dad this time around, whose viewpoint changes along with the events. Kathleen Lloyd is the new mother, and is a much stronger and more interesting character than the new mother was in the first movie.
final word: Worth watching once, especially if you liked the first one.
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