Watch Bloody Mama

Bloody Mama is a 1970 American crime drama film directed by Roger Corman and starring Shelley Winters, Don Stroud, and Pat Hingle. The movie is loosely based on a real-life criminal family called the Barker-Karpis gang, who were notorious for their violent crimes and robberies during the 1930s. The story revolves around the matriarch of the Barker gang, Kate "Ma" Barker (Shelley Winters), who leads her four grown sons (Don Stroud, Robert De Niro, Dirk Blocker, and Clint Kimbrough) into a life of crime in Depression-era America. Ma Barker is depicted as a ruthless and cold-blooded criminal mastermind who uses her maternal instincts to manipulate her sons and commit daring robberies and kidnappings.

The movie opens with a scene of the Barker gang robbing a bank and killing several people, including a police officer. This sets the tone for the rest of the film, which is filled with violent and bloody scenes that are not for the faint-hearted. However, the violence is never gratuitous, and it serves to highlight the desperation and brutality of the times in which the movie is set.

Throughout the film, we see Ma Barker's sons struggle with their loyalty to their mother and their desire to lead normal lives. The character of Fred Barker (Don Stroud) is especially conflicted, as he is in love with a young woman who wants nothing to do with his criminal lifestyle. Meanwhile, Ma Barker grows increasingly paranoid and manipulative, as she begins to fear that her sons are plotting against her.

The performances in Bloody Mama are all excellent, especially Shelley Winters as Ma Barker. Winters brings a steely, almost frightening intensity to her role, and she is able to make the audience both fear and sympathize with her character. Don Stroud is also impressive as Fred Barker, conveying the character's conflicted emotions with nuance and subtlety.

The movie's direction and production values are also top-notch, with Roger Corman's trademark style and flair evident throughout. The movie is fast-paced and tense, with plenty of action and suspense to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The cinematography and music are also noteworthy, adding to the movie's gritty and atmospheric tone.

Overall, Bloody Mama is a gripping and well-made crime drama that explores the dark and violent underbelly of the American dream. The movie does not shy away from the brutality of its subject matter, but it also never loses sight of the humanity and complexity of its characters. For fans of crime movies and character-driven dramas, Bloody Mama is a must-see.

Bloody Mama is a 1970 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7 and a MetaScore of 69.