Bad Seeds

As the sun rises over the sleepy town, nine-year-old Emma Grossman (Mckenna Grace) begins her day with a solemn gaze out the window, where a cat's desperate attempts to escape its watery grave are met with indifference. The silence is broken only by the sound of her father, David Grossman (Rob Lowe), preparing breakfast in the kitchen below. Emma's hopes for winning the coveted Citizenship medal are palpable as she takes her seat at the table, her eyes shining with an unspoken determination.

The day of reckoning arrives, and Emma sits among her peers, convinced that this is her moment to shine. But when Mrs. Ellis (Marci T. House) announces Milo Curtis (Luke Roessler) as the winner, Emma's face contorts in shock and disappointment. Her father's gentle reprimand for her bitter outburst serves only to fuel her anger, and she secretly extracts Milo from the celebratory crowd, leading him on a winding path through the trees until they reach the rugged cliffs overlooking the sea.

In a swift and calculating motion, Emma pushes Milo off the edge, claiming the medal as her own before rejoining the party. The screams of two young girls pierce the air as they stumble upon Milo's lifeless body, and Emma watches from a distance as the desperate efforts to revive him unfold. Her father's concern for her well-being falls on deaf ears, as she dons a mask of cheerfulness, refusing to acknowledge the gravity of the situation.

The following day, David's sister Angela (Cara Buono), a psychiatrist with a keen eye for human behavior, senses that Emma is stuck in a state of shock. As Emma effortlessly manipulates Chloe (Sarah Dugdale), their babysitter, into doing her bidding, it becomes clear that this nine-year-old girl has honed a calculating and calculating nature, one that will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

As the mournful atmosphere of Milo's funeral lingers, Emma and David engage in a somber conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Curtis (Shauna Johannesen and Robert Egger), feigning sorrow to mask their true emotions. The elderly couple requests photos from David taken on the day of the ceremony, but it is not until he reviews them later that night that he notices Emma's telltale scowl in the background, her gaze fixed on Milo's medal with a mixture of disdain and contempt. David's concern begins to simmer.

The next morning, Mrs. Ellis and an investigator arrive at David's doorstep, sparking Emma's curiosity as she eavesdrops on their conversation. The authorities reveal that Emma was the last person seen with Milo, having been observed taking him into the woods - a revelation that sends a shiver down David's spine. Chloe appears suddenly, her intuition guiding her to the inescapable truth: Emma had a hand in Milo's demise.

In an effort to divert attention and prevent further inquiry, Emma creates a diversion by smashing a cookie jar and deliberately cutting herself on shattered glass, unleashing a blood-curdling scream that sends Mrs. Ellis and the investigator hastening from the premises. David approaches Emma, his voice tinged with concern as he asks if she has any knowledge regarding her time spent alone with Milo on the rock-face - but Emma vehemently denies any involvement, accusing Mrs. Ellis of lying due to a long-standing grudge against her.

The following day, Emma and Chloe embark on a stroll, during which Chloe broaches the subject of Emma's supposed actions towards Milo, only for Emma to vehemently deny the allegations. However, their tranquility is disrupted by the arrival of Mr. Curtis and the investigator at Milo's home, prompting Chloe to caution Emma that her denials must be convincing lest she face the consequences - including a 'pink electric chair' designed specifically for children.

As the tension builds, Chloe secretly reveals to Emma that if caught for Milo's murder, she will be subjected to this very contraption. Emma's unease is palpable as she begins to contemplate the gravity of her situation. Later, Mrs. Ellis unwittingly stumbles upon a sinister surprise - a wasp nest deliberately placed in her vehicle by Emma, which ultimately leads to an off-screen crash.

In the midst of this turmoil, Chloe uncovers Milo's citizenship medal hidden beneath Emma's bed and, with mischievous intent, hangs it from a lamp in David's room, ensuring that its discovery will unravel the tangled threads of deceit.

As David returns home from his absence, he fails to notice the medal that had been bestowed upon him, and it is Emma who enters his room, initiating a conversation with him. Her unassuming nature belies her true intentions as she discreetly removes the medal from its perch on the lamp, secretly stashing it behind her back. David's curiosity gets the better of him, prompting him to ask Emma what she is hiding, and she reveals the medal's presence, feigning nonchalance. When he presses her for information about how she acquired the medal, Emma concocts a tale, claiming that Milo allowed her to wear it as part of a game they played on the rock face, but her story takes a dark turn when she admits that Milo failed to return after she left the site.

David's concern for Emma's behavior grows exponentially, and he seeks guidance from his sister Angela, securing the number of a child psychiatrist. His worry about Emma's involvement in Milo's demise is palpable, and he becomes increasingly convinced that her actions are indicative of psychopathic tendencies. The next day, David insists that Emma return the medal to its rightful owner, Mrs. Curtis, while later that night, he delves into research on antisocial behavior in children, his findings only serving to further solidify his suspicions.

The following day, Emma visits a child psychiatrist (Patty McCormack), projecting an aura of normalcy, much to David's relief when the doctor assures him that Emma is "one hundred percent normal." However, this respite is short-lived, as Chloe's taunting words cut deep into Emma's psyche. The notion that she may one day become her stepmother is repulsive to Emma, who vows to ensure that David gets rid of the unwanted interloper.

That night, as David prepares for a date, Emma recites Chloe's vitriolic remarks verbatim, seeking reassurance from David that what was said wasn't meant. Emma's response is unequivocal: she will not accept a stepmother. Meanwhile, Chloe is engrossed in a film downstairs, only to stumble upon Emma in the work-shed. The unsuspecting Chloe finds herself locked inside as Emma sets the shed ablaze, claiming her life.

David rushes home to find that the authorities have already arrived on the scene. Later, he approaches Emma's room, finding her feigning sleep. He probes her about the recent tragedies, and with a chilling matter-of-factness, Emma confesses to the murders of Milo, Mrs. Ellis, Chloe, and her previous babysitter, whom she deemed unworthy. Justifying these heinous acts as morally justifiable, Emma asserts that she did nothing wrong. The crushing weight of her revelations leaves David shattered.

As David (character) navigates the winding roads to a secluded lake house, he's driven by desperation to keep Emma safe from prying eyes - specifically Sheriff Peterson's suspicious gaze. His plan is twofold: prevent Emma from landing in an institution or behind bars, and then take his own life. The weight of this morbid decision settles heavy on David's conscience as he arrives at the lakeside retreat.

Emma, sensing her fate, takes matters into her own hands. With calculated precision, she triggers the gas fireplace and kitchen stoves, attempting to create an explosion that would consume both herself and David. However, fate intervenes, and David awakens just in time to salvage their situation. He whisks Emma away from the lake house, determined to complete his plan.

Undeterred by her earlier attempts on his life, David concocts a new strategy. He crushes some medication into Emma's hot chocolate, hoping to render her incapacitated. However, Emma proves herself to be a cunning adversary, switching the mugs without David's notice. As he succumbs to the tranquilizing effects of the medication, Emma seizes the opportunity to exact revenge by attempting to shoot him with his own gun.

Her aim is off, but she manages to send David reeling. He gives chase, and Emma finds herself cornered once more. This time, however, she summons the courage to call 911, screaming for help as the situation spirals out of control. The caretaker of the lake house, Lorne Cardinal, arrives on the scene, armed with his shotgun and a no-nonsense attitude.

As David lunges at Emma, claiming she's evil, the caretaker intervenes, shooting David down and rendering him lifeless. Emma remains unscathed as authorities rush to the scene. The next morning, as David's body is removed from the premises, Emma sits in solemn silence, embracing her aunt Angela with a cold and triumphant smile etched across her face - a haunting testament to her unwavering determination and resourcefulness.