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IMDbPro

Bad Ronald

  • TV Movie
  • 19741974
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 14m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
Bad Ronald (1974)
  • Drama
  • Horror
  • Thriller
A perverted teenage boy who lives in the walls of a house finds the house sold to a family after his mother dies, and he falls for one of the new residents.A perverted teenage boy who lives in the walls of a house finds the house sold to a family after his mother dies, and he falls for one of the new residents.A perverted teenage boy who lives in the walls of a house finds the house sold to a family after his mother dies, and he falls for one of the new residents.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Buzz Kulik
  • Writers
    • Andrew Peter Marin(teleplay by)
    • John Holbrook Vance(based on a novel by)
  • Stars
    • Scott Jacoby
    • Pippa Scott
    • John Larch
Top credits
  • Director
    • Buzz Kulik
  • Writers
    • Andrew Peter Marin(teleplay by)
    • John Holbrook Vance(based on a novel by)
  • Stars
    • Scott Jacoby
    • Pippa Scott
    • John Larch
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 59User reviews
    • 36Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos28

    Bad Ronald (1974)
    Scott Jacoby in Bad Ronald (1974)
    Bad Ronald (1974)
    Scott Jacoby in Bad Ronald (1974)
    Kim Hunter in Bad Ronald (1974)
    John Larch in Bad Ronald (1974)
    John Larch in Bad Ronald (1974)
    Pippa Scott in Bad Ronald (1974)
    Kim Hunter in Bad Ronald (1974)
    Ted Eccles in Bad Ronald (1974)
    Ted Eccles and Scott Jacoby in Bad Ronald (1974)
    Scott Jacoby in Bad Ronald (1974)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Scott Jacoby
    Scott Jacoby
    • Ronald Wilbyas Ronald Wilby
    Pippa Scott
    Pippa Scott
    • Mrs. Woodas Mrs. Wood
    John Larch
    John Larch
    • Sgt. Lynchas Sgt. Lynch
    Dabney Coleman
    Dabney Coleman
    • Mr. Woodas Mr. Wood
    Kim Hunter
    Kim Hunter
    • Elaine Wilbyas Elaine Wilby
    John Fiedler
    John Fiedler
    • Mr. Roscoeas Mr. Roscoe
    Linda Watkins
    Linda Watkins
    • Mrs. Schumacheras Mrs. Schumacher
    Cindy Fisher
    Cindy Fisher
    • Babs Woodas Babs Wood
    Cindy Eilbacher
    Cindy Eilbacher
    • Althea Woodas Althea Wood
    Lisa Eilbacher
    Lisa Eilbacher
    • Ellen Woodas Ellen Wood
    Ted Eccles
    Ted Eccles
    • Duane Matthewsas Duane Matthews
    Roger Aaron Brown
    Roger Aaron Brown
    • Sergeant Carteras Sergeant Carter
    Aneta Corsaut
    Aneta Corsaut
    • Mrs. Matthewsas Mrs. Matthews
    Angela Hoffman
    • Carol Matthewsas Carol Matthews
    Karen Purcill
    • Wandaas Wanda
    • (as Karen Purcil)
    Shelley Spurlock
    • Laurie Matthewsas Laurie Matthews
    Lesley Woods
    Lesley Woods
    • Aunt Margaretas Aunt Margaret
    • Director
      • Buzz Kulik
    • Writers
      • Andrew Peter Marin(teleplay by)
      • John Holbrook Vance(based on a novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Based on John Holbrook Vance's novel of the same title, the violence of the book was heavily cut and toned down for television. Much of the more disturbing content of Vance's novel was considered too intense for FCC restrictions.
    • Goofs
      When Ronald is crawling out of the pantry, a boom mike is visible.
    • Quotes

      Ronald Wilby: Atranta isn't fantasy, it's real!... You'll see.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Ugly Betty: Bad Amanda (2008)

    User reviews59

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Made for TV cult classic!
    On the face of it, Bad Ronald doesn't look like it has much going for it, but despite some silly plot devices and the fact that it was made for TV back in the seventies; this is actually a very decent little cult gem. The film capitalises on the idea of creepy old houses being haunted; only this time the house at the centre of the tale is not inhabited by ghosts, but rather by the psychopathic son of the previous owner. The premise works from what is probably the most obvious plot device ever, as we watch the title character; an odd young man obsessed by the fantasy world that he himself has created, accidentally murder a young neighbourhood girl. That's just the start of the chain of events, and when he comes home to tell his mother that he's killed a girl and buried the body in a shallow grave, she immediately decides that he must convert the downstairs bathroom into a secret hideout. He stays there while his mother brings him food, but tragedy strikes when she dies in hospital, leaving Ronald on his own. It's not long before a new family moves in, and Ronald isn't moving out...

    I'm probably overrating this film a little really, but the way that the story is delivered is completely undemanding, and that makes this a very fun film to watch. Too many films these days are too complicated, but Buzz Kulik's film focuses on the important elements, and the resulting film is very simple and easy to get into. The film isn't heavy on characterisation, but the central situation has more than enough to make up for this, and the character of Ronald is easy to get behind, despite the fact that he's the villain of the piece. The fact that it was made for TV is obvious as the film looks very cheap and the acting is largely diabolical, but I've seen a lot worse from theatrically released films. There's no blood and gore in the film, partly because it was made for television, and partly because the story really doesn't need any gore to succeed. Bad Ronald is a real bona fide cult gem; it may never achieve classic status, but its well worth tracking down and I highly recommend this film to anyone that gets their hands on it. I know I'll definitely see it again!
    helpful•18
    4
    • The_Void
    • Oct 11, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 23, 1974 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ronald el malo
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Lorimar Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 14 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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