It's Alive

Directed by maverick filmmaker Larry Cohen, It's Alive (1974) is a provocative horror film that toys with many of the genre's conventions while offering thrills and chills of its own. Combining elements of suspense, horror, and social commentary, Cohen’s classic tale set a precedent for a new brand of fear in the mid-1970s. It stars John P. Ryan, Sharon Farrell and Andrew Duggan in pivotal roles. The film is perhaps best known for its commentary on parenthood and the pharmaceutical industry.

John P. Ryan, a versatile actor well-known for his performances in genre films, plays Frank Davis - the lead character who is an ordinary man in an extraordinary situation. Frank’s life takes a nosedive into a waking nightmare when he and his wife, Lenore, portrayed by Sharon Farrell, become unsuspecting parents to a monstrous baby. A maverick in her own right, Farrell convincingly portrays a troubled mother who is torn between her inherent love for her newborn and the scary reality of her child's nature.

Set amidst the urban sprawl of Los Angeles, the film starts with the Davis family expecting their second child. While they harbor normal fears about adding to their family, their anxieties are amplified dramatically upon the birth of their child. Their baby turns out to be anything but normal, morphing the joyous occasion into a living horror. Born with feral, monstrous attributes, the new addition to their family changes their lives drastically. Instead of dwelling in the joys of their newborn, the Davis family find themselves grappling with how to confront the terrors that their baby brings.

It's Alive portrays the struggle of the parents as they grapple with guilt, fear, and confusion over their newborn’s origin. The Davis couple faces societal backlash as well as personal turmoil. Notably, the film not only touches upon the horror aspect but also navigates through the emotional spectrum of a couple who are stuck between their societal roles as parents and their realization of their child’s monstrous tendencies.

Andrew Duggan, who plays the role of the family's doctor adds another dimension to the movie. His character serves a critical role in gradually revealing the cause and implications of the baby's violent tendencies, and helps to ground the increasingly horrifying predicaments that the Davis family faces.

Cohen's distinctive storytelling style is also quite evident in It’s Alive, as he explores the societal and personal consequences of an extraordinary premise. The film brilliantly harnesses the primal instincts of fear and survival, painting a chilling portrait of parenihood went wrong. An iconic scene involving the monstrous infant rampaging through the city of Los Angeles encapsulates Cohen's ability to create visually arresting imagery laced with suspense. Utilizing the chiaroscuro aesthetic, the movie’s cinematography may remind viewers of classic noir films but with a contemporary, 70s twist.

The primary strength of It's Alive lies in its commitment to presenting an unfolding domestic and societal nightmare, pivoting around the idea of how fear of the unknown can create paranoia and hysteria. Cohen never rushes his story, allowing tension to creep and grow, making room for viewers to think about the broader implications of the narrative.

Bernard Herrmann, known for his collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock, composed the film's music, and his score significantly amplifies the movie’s horror elements. The combination of his sharp, suspenseful score along with the looming threat of the monstrous newborn makes the viewing experience thrillingly unnerving.

It’s Alive proves that Cohen was not merely satiating the public demand for genre films during the 1970s, but was also one of the few directors who dared to tap into the underlying sociopolitical fears of the times and cleverly integrate them within the narrative of a horror movie. The uncanny blend of horror and topical social commentary continues to make It’s Alive riveting viewing even today.

In conclusion, It’s Alive stands apart as an inventive, edgy horror film of 1970s, offering more than just jump-scares. This film successfully marries suspenseful horror with contemplative drama – a combination that makes it a timeless entry in the annals of horror cinema. Just as importantly, it gives audiences a critical and thought-provoking societal insight that forces them to introspect.