The Suckling

The Suckling

Year: 1990

Runtime: 89 mins

Language: English

Director: Francis Teri

HorrorHorror

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!

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Timeline – The Suckling (1990)

Trace every key event in The Suckling (1990) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Bill and Rebecca arrive at the Brooklyn abortion clinic

Bill, a college student, brings his pregnant girlfriend Rebecca to a seedy clinic that doubles as a bordello. Rebecca is reluctant to go through with the procedure, but Big Mama drugs her with a liquid and she passes out. The fetus is removed and Big Mama orders Bertha to flush it down the toilet.

April 1, 1973 Brooklyn abortion clinic
2

Fetus enters sewer and mutates

The aborted fetus is flushed into the sewer and begins to mutate after coming into contact with leaking toxic waste. The exposure mutates it into a large humanoid monster lurking in the plumbing beneath the building.

Sewer beneath the clinic
3

Bertha investigates the noises; monster attacks

Bertha hears strange noises from the toilet and goes to investigate. The fetus's tentacle erupts and rips her head off, revealing the monster's threat. The other survivors begin to realize something is terribly wrong.

Bathroom/sewer access
4

Candy warns others; quarantine begins

Candy witnesses the murder and warns the others as the staff discover that all doors and windows are blocked by fleshy growths and the phone lines are dead. The building is suddenly sealed off with no easy escape.

Interior of bordello/clinic
5

Monster claims another victim; escape plan forms

The survivors watch as the monster kills another prostitute, heightening the sense of danger. They begin to discuss a plan to escape the building before the monster can trap them all.

Interior of the bordello
6

Axel seizes control; Candy is shot

Axel proclaims himself leader, brutalizing dissent within the group. In a moment of brutality, he shoots Candy in the head when she challenges him.

Interior
7

Bill, Axel, and others head to the basement

On Bill's suggestion, a small group including Axel descends to the basement to search for the monster, suspecting it may hide in the boiler room. They confirm their theory, heightening the tension as the creature's threat escalates.

Basement/Boiler Room
8

Axel's fuse box accident; electrocution

During the basement encounter, Axel attempts to attack the creature but accidentally stabs a fuse box, electrocuting himself to death when his head explodes.

Basement
9

Breached door leads a survivor into danger

Bill and Rebecca break a hole in the front door by tying a rope to a heavy suitcase as a battering ram. A survivor attempting to escape through the breach is dragged into a fleshy chamber, where the monster kills him.

Front entrance
10

Big Mama confronts the monster in the basement

Big Mama goes to the basement to see her son's corpse. The monster appears, kills her, and then bursts into the lobby, killing Bill.

Basement to Lobby
11

Rebecca becomes the last survivor; monster enters her

With Bill and Big Mama dead, Rebecca remains the sole survivor. The creature reverts to the size of a fetus and forces its way inside Rebecca through her vagina.

Lobby/inside Rebecca
12

Police and hospital aftermath; killer returns

The police arrive to find Rebecca alive but in a coma. About a week later, she is taken to a hospital psych ward; doctors and police doubt her story. When a hospital attendant tries to rape her, the creature bursts from Rebecca and kills him.

about a week later Police precinct, hospital ward

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:05

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Claustrophobic siege horror movies like The Suckling

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.

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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.

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Narrative Summary

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.

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Unlock the Full Story of The Suckling

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The Suckling Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Suckling, 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.

The Suckling Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Suckling

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.

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Suckling

The Suckling Spoiler-Free Summary

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The Suckling Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Suckling

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