Year: 1990
Runtime: 89 mins
Language: English
Director: Francis Teri
She goes to an illegal abortion clinic, hoping a fast procedure will end her pregnancy. Instead, the aborted fetus reanimates as a mutant and attacks her, her boyfriend and the staff, unleashing terror throughout the dimly lit facility. The creature, an echo of her unborn child, is forever 'mommy’s little mutant', stalking terrified victims.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen The Suckling 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!
Read the complete plot breakdown of The Suckling (1990), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
On April 1, 1973 in Brooklyn, a college student named Bill Tim Martin Crouse takes his pregnant girlfriend Rebecca to a seedy back-alley abortion clinic that also doubles as a brothel. Rebecca is reluctant to go through with the procedure, but the operation proceeds after she is drugged by Big Mama Janet Sovey. The fetus is removed, and Big Mama has her assistant Bertha Antoinette Greene-Fisher dispose of it by flushing it down the toilet. The fetus drifts into the sewer, where it comes into contact with toxic waste leaking from a nearby barrel, gradually mutating into a large, humanoid monster.
After Rebecca regains consciousness, Bertha starts hearing noises from the toilet. When she investigates, the fetus’s tentacle bursts out and rips her head off. Candy, a prostitute Marie Michaels, witnesses the murder and hurries to inform the rest of the staff. They discover that all the doors and windows have been blocked by a strange, fleshy substance, and the phone lines are dead.
The survivors soon witness the monster kill another hooker in the building, and they begin to formulate a plan to escape. Sherman [Gerald Preger], the man in charge of the bordello, is attacked by the creature, and Axel [Frank Rivera], Big Mama’s son and a former prisoner with anger issues, accidentally shoots Sherman to death while trying to kill the monster. Axel then proclaims himself the leader and shoots Candy in the head when she dares to speak back, before telling the remaining survivors that they must kill the monster before they attempt to escape.
On Bill’s suggestion, he, Axel, and a few other survivors venture into the basement, hoping the creature might be hiding in the boiler room. Their theory proves correct, but when Axel tries to kill the creature, he accidentally stabs a fuse box, electrocuting him until his head explodes. Later, Bill and Rebecca manage to break a hole in the front door by tying a rope to a heavy suitcase and using it as a battering ram. When another survivor attempts to escape with it, he finds himself pulled into a strange fleshy environment where the monster attacks and kills him.
Eventually, Bill, Rebecca, and Big Mama are the last survivors. Big Mama goes into the basement to see her son’s corpse, and the creature appears, killing her before bursting into the lobby and killing Bill. With Rebecca as the only one left alive, the monster reverts to the size of a regular fetus and pushes its way inside of her through her vagina. When the police are called to investigate, they find Rebecca alive but in a coma. About a week later, Rebecca, still catatonic, has been taken to a psychiatric ward. The doctors and police officers remain skeptical of her claims, but when a hospital attendant attempts to rape her, the creature erupts from within and kills him.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:05
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.
Trapped characters fight for survival against a relentless threat in a confined space.If you liked the desperate, confined fight for survival in The Suckling, explore more movies that trap their characters in a single location against a monstrous threat. These films share a sense of relentless pressure and spatial limitations that amplify the horror.
These stories typically follow a straightforward siege structure. After a brief setup, a threat is introduced and immediately confines the characters. The plot revolves around a series of attacks, failed escape attempts, and dwindling hope, creating a linear escalation of terror within tight quarters.
Movies are grouped here based on their shared core structure of a confined siege, the intense and anxious mood it generates, and the fast-paced, high-stakes survival narrative that leaves little room for respite.
Stories where psychological trauma manifests as grotesque, uncontrollable bodily transformations.For viewers who appreciated the disturbing blend of psychological torment and grotesque mutation in The Suckling, this list features movies where body horror is a direct consequence of trauma. These stories are heavy, bleak, and explore the horrors of the human body and mind.
The narrative often follows a protagonist grappling with a profound personal crisis, which then triggers a horrifying biological event. The monster or mutation becomes a physical symbol of their trauma, leading to a destructive and usually bleak confrontation with this manifestation of their pain.
These films are united by their focus on the body as a site of horror, the exploration of trauma as a catalyst for monstrosity, and a consistently dark, heavy tone that results in emotionally devastating outcomes.
Don't stop at just watching — explore The Suckling 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 The Suckling is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of The Suckling with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Suckling. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Suckling that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Suckling: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like The Suckling that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
The Suckling (1990) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
The Suckling (1990) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
The Suckling (1990) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like The Suckling – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
The Slaughterhouse Massacre (2005) Full Summary & Key Details
Slaughtered Vomit Dolls (2006) Story Summary & Characters
Slaughter Studios (2002) Detailed Story Recap
The Unborn (1991) Full Movie Breakdown
Lucker the Necrophagous (1986) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Grotesque (1988) Full Summary & Key Details
The Abomination (1988) Full Movie Breakdown
Sucker (2022) Detailed Story Recap
Scream Bloody Murder (1973) Movie Recap & Themes
It’s Alive (2009) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Daddy’s Deadly Darling (1973) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
The Suckers (1972) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Fetus (2008) Detailed Story Recap
The Sickhouse (2008) Film Overview & Timeline
The Baby (1973) Full Summary & Key Details