It Lives Again

It Lives Again

Year: 1978

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Larry Cohen

HorrorScience FictionHorror the undead and monster classicsChilling experiments and classic monster horrorSci-fi horror creatures and aliens

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.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen It Lives Again yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – It Lives Again (1978)

Explore the full timeline and setting of It Lives Again (1978). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

late 1970s

Set in the late 1970s, the film grounds its sci‑fi horror in an era of burgeoning medical experimentation and public mistrust of institutions. The era’s practical effects, gritty urban landscapes, and Cold War anxieties color the story’s tension between progress and ethics. It reflects a period when private laboratories and clinical ambitions could seem both hopeful and perilous.

Location

Seattle, Los Angeles

The action unfolds across West Coast cities, centering on Seattle where the first mutant birth occurs and Los Angeles where the chase intensifies. Key sequences take place inside hospital maternity wards and clinical labs, highlighting a world of medical secrecy. The pursuit also spills into rural woods and makeshift facilities, underscoring the clash between sterile science and dangerous, uncontrolled forces.

🏙️ Urban 🏥 Medical 🗺️ West Coast

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:34

Main Characters – It Lives Again (1978)

Meet the key characters of It Lives Again (1978), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Eugene Scott (Frederic Forrest)

A cautious, protective would-be father who partners with Frank to warn others. He weighs the danger to his growing family against the pull of doing the right thing, showing both vulnerability and resolve. His stance evolves from skepticism to proactive defense of his future child.

🧭 Leader 🛡 Protector 👨‍👦 Father-to-be

Frank Davis (John P. Ryan)

A grieving man seeking redemption for his role in his child's death. He becomes a tireless advocate for other expectant parents, risking himself to uncover the conspiracy. His moral clarity and willingness to act drive much of the film’s momentum.

🕯️ Mentor 🧭 Investigator 🗝️ Atonement

Jody Scott (Kathleen Lloyd)

An expectant mother caught in a deadly pursuit, whose bond with her baby becomes the central emotional anchor. She moves between fear and resolve, relying on Frank and Eugene to navigate the danger. Her pregnancy amplifies the stakes of every decision.

🤰 Expectant 💪 Determined 👨‍👩‍👧 Parent-to-be

Mr. Mallory (John Marley)

A calculating antagonist who embodies the conspiracy surrounding the mutant births. He wields influence and manipulation to advance his agenda, challenging the protagonists with a cold, strategic cruelty. His presence heightens the menace and seeding for a climactic confrontation.

🧭 Power 🗡️ Manipulation 🪬 Antagonist

Dr. Forrest (Eddie Constantine)

A physician connected to the medical network behind the secret experiments. He anchors the film’s medical dimension, balancing clinical rhetoric with the unsettling morality of the agenda. His role underscores the tension between scientific progress and human cost.

🧬 Scientist 🧪 clinician 🧠 Cunning

Dr. Perry (Andrew Duggan)

Another doctor entwined in the overarching scheme, adding to the web of medical complicity. He embodies the collective pressure of professional duty colliding with dangerous ambition. His involvement cements the sense that danger comes from within trusted institutions.

🧭 Collaborator 🧪 Medical 🧩 Enabler

Detective Perkins (James Dixon)

A police investigator who tracks the strange occurrences and attempts to thwart the conspirators. He represents the law and the fragile hope of stopping the threat in time. His presence reminds viewers that the danger is pursued from both inside and outside the system.

🕵️ Investigator 👮 Law 🧭 Authority

Cindy (Jill Gatsby)

A supporting character who interacts with the central couple, helping to illuminate the human side of the chase. Her role provides additional perspective on the couple’s world and the repercussions of the conspiracy. She contributes to the film’s tense atmosphere through personal stakes.

🧭 Ally 👀 Witness 🗣️ Support

Dr. Santo De Silva (Bobby Ramsen)

A physician who participates in the medical research network surrounding the mutant births. His presence adds to the ensemble of scientists whose collaboration blurs ethical lines. He helps illustrate the broad base of support for the program, complicating the protagonists’ efforts.

🧬 Scientist 🧪 Collaborator 🕹️ Opposition

Lydia (Glenda Young)

A figure connected to the family’s past or project network who influences events from behind the scenes. Her actions shape the plot’s turn toward the pursuit and the tactical decisions of the protagonists. She embodies the hidden pressures and motivations within the conspiracy.

🗝️ Insider 🧭 Influencer 🧩 Enigma

Jody's Mother (Lynn Wood)

The mother whose actions set crucial plot devices in motion, including the placement of a homing device in Jody’s purse. She represents a transgressive protective instinct that backfires, intensifying the chase. Her choices pull the protagonists deeper into danger while raising questions about maternal control.

🧭 Ancestor 👩‍👧 Guardian 🗺️ Influencer

Dr. Peters (Dennis O'Flaherty)

A doctor contributing to the medical research milieu, adding another layer to the institutional web surrounding the births. His presence reinforces the film’s exploration of how multiple professionals can propel a dangerous conspiracy. He helps flesh out the network of complicity that the protagonists confront.

🧬 Doctor 🧪 Network 🧭 Collaborator

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:34

Major Themes – It Lives Again (1978)

Explore the central themes of It Lives Again (1978), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧪 Science Ethics

A clandestine medical program seeks to control the birth of mutant children, raising questions about who decides the fate of unborn beings. The plot probes the moral boundaries of doctors and researchers when patient safety and personal gain collide. It shows how curiosity and hubris can fuel conspiracies that threaten innocent lives, escalating from secrecy to violence.

💔 Atonement

Frank Davis seeks to atone for his complicity in his child’s death by warning others and championing the vulnerable. His pursuit of redemption mirrors the struggles of Eugene and Jody as they try to protect their baby. The theme runs through the narrative as characters confront past mistakes and the possibility of making amends through action.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family Bonds

Central to the story is the fierce bond between parents and their child, which both attracts danger and provides resilience. The babies’ instinctive attachment to their parents drives much of the tension and urgency. Love and loyalty become their strongest defense against a predatory conspiracy.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:34

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of It Lives Again

Don't stop at just watching — explore It Lives Again in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what It Lives Again is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

It Lives Again Summary

Read a complete plot summary of It Lives Again, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

It Lives Again Summary

It Lives Again Timeline

Track the full timeline of It Lives Again with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

It Lives Again Timeline

More About It Lives Again

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about It Lives Again: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About It Lives Again