MovieChat Forums > Beasts (1976) Discussion > 'Baby' episode - what happened?

'Baby' episode - what happened?


This episode was great up until the ending, which left me scratching my head. I think the lurking thing was supposed to be nursing a baby, but was it the mummified thing, somehow come back to life?

groovydoom.blogspot.com

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Yeah - the lurking thing was the ghost of a witch, and the mummified creature was the remains of her familiar. In folklore witches were said to have an extra nipple through which they could nurse their familiars... I believe I'm right in saying that there have been instances of real animals, cats and so on, being found walled up in old houses, a reflection of their association with witchcraft.

Anyway, I think the episode does also reference the belief that witches were responsible for the sickening of livestock, including miscarriages and stillbirths. It is implied in that final scene of Baby that the heroine may have miscarried...

It all goes without overt explanation though - the writer didn't like that the director felt the need to make the ending so graphic... but I think it would have played as even more obscure to the audience if they hadn't done what they did.

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I guess I got the general idea, but the specifics went over my head. Thanks for that response, I appreciate it!

groovydoom.blogspot.com

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It was creepy as hell! Only watching Beasts now as I wasn't around when it was first shown. I'm a huge fan of ATV's output.

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I watched it when it was first broadcast, aged 13. It really, really scared me, especially the ending. A few years ago I watched it again on DVD. I was really bracing myself for the ending, over three decades later...

So this is permanence, love's shattered pride.
What once was innocence, turned on its side.

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