Bloody Mama

"You gotta' believe... You gotta' have faith... But first, you gotta' get rid of the witnesses!"

Aug 17 1970 R 1h 30m
Crime, Drama

Sexually abused as a young girl, Kate "Ma" Barker grows into a violent and powerful woman by the 1930s. She lovingly dominates her grown sons and grooms them into a pack of tough crooks. The boys include the cruel Herman, who still shares a bed with Ma; Fred, an ex-con who fell in love with a fellow prisoner; and Lloyd, who gets high on whatever's handy. Together they form a deadly, bizarre family of Depression-era bandits.

Plot

A psychological gangster film based on fact. Machine gun totin' Ma Barker lead her family gang (her sons) on a crime spree in the Depression era. Her loyal brood have every perversion imaginable. The sadistic Herman sleeps with his Ma. When Fred Barker is released from prison, he brings home his cellmate and lover Kevin Dirkman, who also sleeps with Ma, much to Fred's chagrin. Lloyd Barker is a spaced-out drug addict who sniffs glue if nothing better is around. Ma kidnaps happy-go-lucky millionaire Sam Adams Pendlebury and holds him for ransom. Arthur Barker, Ma's wallflower son, and Herman's hooker lady friend Mona Gibson also figure in the story. The bloody finale is virtually choreographed, and a visual stunner. Filmed in the Ozarks.

Written by

Robert Thom, Don Peters

Directed by

Roger Corman

Cast

Shelley Winters, Don Stroud, Pat Hingle

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

American International Pictures

Languages

English

Awards

N/A

Trailers
Bloody Mama (1970) Roadshow Home Video Australia Trailer
Featurettes
Roger Corman on BLOODY MAMA
Scores
# of Votes
3,987
Average Rating
5.7 out of 10
Metascore
69
Popularity
NA