Bad Seeds

Emma Grossman witnesses a cat drowning in the fountain outside her bedroom window. This traumatic event marks the beginning of her dark thoughts and emotional turmoil, laying the groundwork for the tragic events that will follow.

During breakfast, Emma expresses her wish to win the Citizenship medal, a prestigious award given to students who exemplify the school’s values. This moment highlights her yearning for approval and recognition, setting her up for a devastating disappointment.

On the much-anticipated Merit Day, excitement fills the air as students await the medal announcement. Emma's hopes are crushed when Mrs. Ellis announces that classmate Milo Curtis is the recipient, shattering her dreams and fueling feelings of anger and resentment.

In a moment of jealousy and spite, Emma lures Milo away from the celebration to a secluded area. In a shocking act, she pushes him off a cliff, stealing the medal as she returns to the party, leaving his fate unknown at that moment.

The community is thrown into panic following the discovery of Milo's body. Emma watches with detachment as frantic attempts to revive him unfold, highlighting her emotional disconnection from the tragedy she caused.

In the aftermath of Milo's death, Emma maintains a facade of cheerfulness, leaving her father David confused about her emotional state. His sister Angela, a psychiatrist, wrongly assumes Emma is simply in shock and will eventually process her grief.

Emma discovers that Chloe, her babysitter, has been stealing prescription medication and uses this advantage to exert control over her. This dynamic showcases Emma's manipulative tendencies and her growing power over those around her.

At Milo's funeral, Emma feigns sorrow in front of his grieving parents, further deepening the veil of her deceit. During this somber event, Mrs. Curtis requests photographs of Milo, leading to a troubling moment when David finds Emma lurking in the images.

As school authorities investigate, David feels growing paranoia when learning about Emma's last moments with Milo. This intensifying scrutiny drives a wedge between father and daughter, as David begins to fear the implications of Emma's behavior.

Chloe finds the stolen Citizenship medal hidden beneath Emma’s bed, sparking a confrontation that heightens the tension within the household. Emma’s desperate need to protect her secret pushes her to orchestrate a dangerous distraction with a wasp nest.

David's concerns lead him to take Emma to a child psychiatrist, Dr. March, where she manipulates the session to present herself as a model child. This meeting does little to alleviate David's fears as Emma's unsettling behavior continues to escalate.

Emma's jealousy over Chloe's playful banter about becoming David's partner prompts her to execute a chilling plan to eliminate the babysitter. A fire set in the shed serves as the horrific climax of Emma's growing malice.

In a desperate attempt to protect Emma from a facility, David takes her to a remote lake house. Unbeknownst to him, Emma plans against him, thickening the plot of deceit and danger that surrounds their relationship.

The situation culminates as David confronts Emma in a bid to regain control, yet her crafted manipulation leads to his tragic end. Emma's cunning prevails as she orchestrates a catastrophic turn of events that seals her father's fate.

As townspeople arrive at the scene, Emma displays an unnerving calmness, appearing to embrace her aunt Angela in a facade of grief. However, a chilling smirk reveals her true nature, leaving the community in shock over the events that transpired.