It Lives Again

It Lives Again

Year: 1978

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Larry Cohen

HorrorHorror

The “It’s Alive” baby returns, now multiplied into three infant terrors. Maternity wards reverberate with the scrape of tiny claws as murderous, baby‑faced monsters are delivered. Instead of eliminating the offspring, the cursed parents escape to hidden incubation shelters, hoping to survive the nightmare.

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It Lives Again (1978) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of It Lives Again (1978), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Frank Davis, still reeling from the death of his child and the part he played in it, seeks atonement by helping other would-be parents of mutant children. He tries to warn soon-to-be parents Jody Scott and Eugene Scott about a conspiratorial plot to murder their baby and other unborn mutant children born across the country. Their fears are proven when they are confronted by Mallory and a heavy police presence at the hospital as Jody nears labor. She is rescued by Frank from the maternity ward before labor begins. The baby is delivered in a truck built specifically for this purpose, and the family manages to slip away from their pursuers.

The infant is placed with two others in a secluded confinement for observation by the doctors Frank has been working with. Frank informs a skeptical Eugene about the special bond the babies share with their parents. Despite appearing to settle into society, the children seize an opportunity to escape and begin wreaking havoc. While one of the other babies attacks Eugene in the pool, the Scott baby corners Jody with unclear intentions until Frank arrives to defuse the situation. Frank discovers a homing device placed in Jody’s purse by her mother, and he takes the baby to safety. On his way into the woods, Frank is stopped by a night watchman; the flashlight spooks the previously calm baby, and it attacks and kills Frank in an attempt to escape.

Mallory is revealed to be the father of the monster baby born in Seattle and tries to sway a recovering Eugene and Jody. Through the homing device placed in Jody’s purse by her mother, Mallory and his people track Jody to the Los Angeles location where her baby is taken. The baby itself locates them and Jody steadies a frightened Eugene, revealing that the baby only wanted to be part of the family, just as Frank had explained. Mallory enters with the intent to kill the baby, but it strikes first, forcing Eugene to shoot it in defense of Mallory’s life.

With this truth in hand, Eugene begins to warn other expectant couples in the streets, offering help and guidance just as Frank Davis did to him.

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 09:42

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Sympathetic monster tragedies like It Lives Again

Stories where horrifying creatures are also victims deserving of compassion.If you were moved by the tragic parents in It Lives Again, you’ll find similar stories here. This thread gathers movies like It Lives Again where monstrous creatures evoke sympathy, exploring themes of prejudice, humanity, and the heavy cost of survival in horror and sci-fi films.

tragicdisturbinggrimsuspensefulmoral conflictsympathetic horror

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around the emergence or creation of a monstrous entity that is also a victim. Protagonists, often the creators or protectors of the monster, face external persecution while wrestling with their own moral conflict. The story unfolds as a tense struggle for survival that questions the nature of monstrosity and often ends on a bittersweet or bleak note.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on blurring the line between monster and victim. They share a dark tone, high emotional weight from themes of loss and prejudice, and a narrative structure that pits sympathetic characters against a hostile world.

Relentless pursuit stories with protective parents like It Lives Again

Desperate parents on the run, protecting their children from a hostile world.For viewers who enjoyed the frantic escape and protective themes of It Lives Again, this section features similar movies about parents on the run. Discover more films like It Lives Again with high-stakes chases, conspiratorial threats, and the heavy emotional burden of safeguarding a child in a hostile world.

anxiousoppressiveparanoidsuspensefulfearfuldesperaterelentless

Narrative Summary

The narrative is driven by a immediate, life-threatening pursuit. The protagonists are parents whose primary goal shifts from a normal life to sheer survival as they flee with their child. The plot is linear and fast-paced, focusing on evasion, hidden sanctuaries, and confrontations with the pursuers, creating a consistent atmosphere of paranoia and fear.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by the core dynamic of protective parents under siege. They share a fast pacing, high intensity from constant threat, an oppressive and anxious mood, and a focus on the themes of survival and the strength of the parental bond against impossible odds.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in It Lives Again

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Characters, Settings & Themes in It Lives Again

It Lives Again Spoiler-Free Summary

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It Lives Again Spoiler-Free Summary

More About It Lives Again

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