# Baby Blood > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Baby_Blood > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Baby_Blood.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Blood > Source revision: 1352455277 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|1990 French horror film}} {{Distinguish|The Evil Within}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox film | name = Baby Blood | image = Babyblood.jpg | alt = | caption = French theatrical release poster | director = Alain Robak | producer = {{unbulleted list|[Ariel Zeitoun](/source/Ariel_Zeitoun)|Joelle Malberg|Irene Sohm{{Sfn|Muir|2011|p=55}}}} | writer = {{unbulleted list|Alain Robak|Serge Cukier}} | starring = {{plainlist| * Emmanuelle Escourrou * Jean-François Gallotte * Christian Sinniger * Francois Frapier }} | music = Carlos Acciari{{sfn|Muir|2011|p=55}} | cinematography = Bernard Nechet{{sfn|Muir|2011|p=55}} | editing = | studio = {{unbulleted list|Partner's Productions{{sfn|Muir|2011|p=55}}|Exo 7 Productions{{sfn|Muir|2011|p=55}}}} | distributor = [Pushkar Films](/source/Pushkar_Films){{sfn|Muir|2011|p=55}}
[Dimension Films](/source/Dimension_Films) (U.S.) | released = {{Film date|df=yes|1990|1|24|ref1=}} | runtime = 84 minutes{{sfn|Muir|2011|p=55}} | country = France | language = French | budget = | gross = }} '''''Baby Blood''''' is a 1990 French [body horror film](/source/body_horror_film) directed and co-written by Alain Robak, and starring Emmanuelle Escourrou and Jean-François Galotte. Its plot follows a former circus performer who is driven to commit murders and consume blood by an ancient [parasite](/source/parasite) that has invaded her womb. The film was shown at the Avoriaz Fantasy Film Festival and the Sarasota French Film Festival in 1990. At Avoriaz, it became the first film to win a Jury Award despite not being in competition. In the United States, [Dimension Films](/source/Dimension_Films) acquired home media distribution rights, releasing it directly-to-video in 1994 under the alternate title ''The Evil Within''. In 2008, a sequel to the film was released titled ''Lady Blood''. ==Plot== In June 1991 in northern France, a [cheetah](/source/cheetah) arrives by cargo ship from Africa, where it is acquired by a local circus overseen by the abusive Lohman. Before the circus can begin training the cheetah, it is found dead in its cage one night, its body inexplicably burst open. Unbeknownst to Lohman, an ancient [serpent](/source/Snake)-like [parasite](/source/parasite) living in the cheetah has escaped, and it crawls into the [uterus](/source/uterus) of Yanka, a young performer in Lohman's act, while she is sleeping. One month later, Yanka has escaped the carnival and is [squatting](/source/squatting) in a derelict building in a nearby city. Lohman tracks her there, but Yanka, who is now [telepathically](/source/telepathy) communicating with the parasite, and whose body is partly controlled by it, violently murders him with a knife. The parasite urges Yanka to [begin drinking blood](/source/Vampire), which it claims will help it grow and reach birth, at which point Yanka is to release it into the sea, from where it originates. When the parasite directs Yanka to murder a vagrant and drink his blood, she instead unsuccessfully attempts suicide by trying to drown herself in a river. Some time later, Yanka arrives in Paris and begins working as a waitress, where she catches the eye of Richard, a man who becomes quickly enamored of her. The two begin a romance, as Yanka continues to murder civilians at the parasite's order. When Richard suggests he and Yanka marry and have children, she, under the influence of the parasite, murders him. Rosette, her jealous coworker who is attracted to Richard, arrives at Yanka's apartment and finds Richard's body, causing Yanka to flee. Six months later, a visibly pregnant Yanka has taken a job as a taxi driver. One night, she is compelled by the parasite to drive over a jogger and feast on his blood. When she begins to sense she is going into labor, Yanka murders several other civilians, and is ordered by the parasite to steal a mobile [blood donation van](/source/Bloodmobile). Yanka steals the vehicle with a blood donor still inside, incapacitating him, and begins to drive toward the ocean. The parasite explains to her that it must retreat to the ocean where it can evolve, and eventually replace humankind in fifty billion years. The donor regains consciousness and attacks Yanka, causing her to crash the van. Police arrive at the scene and Yanka is rushed by ambulance toward the nearest hospital, but a medic confirms she has already died en route. The parasite, sensing Yanka's body is dying, manages to restart her heart. Yanka returns to life and murders both the medic and the ambulance driver. In the back of the ambulance, Yanka gives birth to a normal-looking baby boy, and is disturbed to find that the telepathic connection the two had during her pregnancy has been severed. Yanka steals another motorist's truck. At a rest area, the parasite kills a hitchhiker while Yanka is trying to get a mechanic's attention and escapes the infant's body, leaving behind its skin. Yanka abandons the truck and boards a bus of football players headed to [Le Havre](/source/Le_Havre), which she suspects the parasite has covertly boarded. Yanka tries to warn the passengers who taunt and molest her, only to find moments later that the parasite, revealing its true form, has burrowed through the head of the driver. Yanka intentionally crashes the van, causing it to explode. At dawn, the parasite retreats into the ocean. ==Cast== {{castlist| *Emmanuelle Escourrou as Yanka *Christian Sinniger as Lohman *Jean-François Gallotte as Richard *Roselyne Geslot as Rosette, the cashier *François Frappier as Leopard Deliveryman *Thierry Le Portier as Le dompteur *Rémy Roubakha as Passenger in Taxi *Eric Averlant as Driver of Car *Alain Robak as Voice of Monster (as Roger Placenta){{efn-lr|In the English dubbed version of the film, [Gary Oldman](/source/Gary_Oldman) provides the voice of the parasite.{{sfn|Muir|2011|p=55}}}} *[Alain Chabat](/source/Alain_Chabat) as Passerby *[Jacques Audiard](/source/Jacques_Audiard) as Jogger *Jean-Claude Romer as Howling Man *Jean-Yves Lafesse as the truck driver *Yann Piquer as the homeless man *Anne Singer as the hotel woman }} ==Production== ''Baby Blood'' was directed by Alain Robak who found that interest in films of the [fantastique](/source/fantastique) genre had increased in France and so desired to make a film in this style as he was a fan of [b-movies](/source/b-movies).{{cite web|url=http://www.excessif.com/cinema/actu-cinema/news-dossier/interview-alain-robak-page-1-5002710-760.html|work=Excessif|title=Interview : Alain Robak [page 1]|access-date=4 January 2012|date=24 September 2009|author=Mangin, Arnaud|language=French|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525041356/http://www.excessif.com/cinema/actu-cinema/news-dossier/interview-alain-robak-page-1-5002710-760.html|archive-date=25 May 2012 }} Despite proposing a low budget, Robak initially had trouble finding producers to back the film, but he received help when he became associated with producer [Ariel Zeitoun](/source/Ariel_Zeitoun). ''Baby Blood'' began shooting on 16 May 1989 in Paris, France.{{cite web|url=http://cinema.encyclopedie.films.bifi.fr/index.php?pk=45721|work=[Ciné-Ressources](/source/Cin%C3%A9-Ressources)|title=Baby Blood (1989) Alain Robak|language=French|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102182705/http://cinema.encyclopedie.films.bifi.fr/index.php?pk=45721|archive-date=2 November 2023|url-status=live}} {{small|(Note: Toggle through tabs "Générique technique", "Générique artistique", "Tournage", etc. for full scope of source)}} The film was shot in five weeks. To save money, the circus in the film was a real circus located in [Nanterre](/source/Nanterre). The film features cameos from Jean-Yves Lafesse, [Alain Chabat](/source/Alain_Chabat) and [Jacques Audiard](/source/Jacques_Audiard). Robak got them to be in the film by simply asking them. Chabat had not been in films previously. Audiard agreed as he was friends with the filmmaker who created ''[Baxter](/source/Baxter_(film))'' (1989).{{cite web|url=http://www.excessif.com/cinema/actu-cinema/news-dossier/interview-alain-robak-page-2-5002711-760.html|work=Excessif|title=Interview : Alain Robak [page 2]|access-date=4 January 2012|date=24 September 2009|author=Mangin, Arnaud|language=French|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525041406/http://www.excessif.com/cinema/actu-cinema/news-dossier/interview-alain-robak-page-2-5002711-760.html|archive-date=25 May 2012 }} The film also has a cameo of Baxter the dog from the previously mentioned film.{{Sfn|Lukeman|2011}} In the English-dubbed version, [Gary Oldman](/source/Gary_Oldman) provides the voice of fetus monster.{{Sfn|Muir|2011|p=55}} ==Release== The film was shown at the Avoriaz International Fantasy Film Festival in January 1990 and the Sarasota French Film Festival in November 1990. At Avoriaz, the film was shown in competition but despite being presented out of competition, it was awarded a jury award, the first time this had happened in the festival's history. ''Baby Blood'' was released in France on 24 January 1990.{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/74303/baby-blood#notes|work=[Turner Classic Movies](/source/Turner_Classic_Movies)|title=Baby Blood (1990) – Misc Notes|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203001131/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/74303/Baby-Blood/misc-notes.html|archive-date=3 February 2014}} The film played for three weeks in Paris where it sold 6750 tickets in its first week.{{cite web|url=http://cinema.encyclopedie.films.bifi.fr/index.php?pk=45721|work=Ciné-Ressources|title=Baby blood (1989) Alain Robak [Exploitation]|language=French|access-date=3 January 2012}} In total, it sold 10381 tickets in Paris. In 2008, a sequel to the film was released titled ''Lady Blood''.{{cite web|url=http://www.fantasiafest.com/2008/en/films/film_detail.php?id=24|work=[Fantasia Festival](/source/Fantasia_Festival)|access-date=4 January 2012|title=Lady Blood}}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} ===Home media=== In France, the film was released on [VHS](/source/VHS) by Fil à Film in 1992.{{cite web|url=http://cinema.encyclopedie.films.bifi.fr/index.php?pk=45721|work=Ciné-Ressources|title=Baby blood (1989) Alain Robak [Vidéos]|language=French|access-date=3 January 2012}} A [Region 1](/source/DVD_region_code) DVD of ''Baby Blood'' was released by [Anchor Bay Entertainment](/source/Anchor_Bay_Entertainment) on 10 October 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/release/baby-blood-e99680|work=[AllRovie](/source/AllMovie)|title=Baby Blood|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717221059/http://www.allrovi.com/movies/movie/release/baby-blood-e99680|archive-date=17 July 2012|url-status=dead}} On 8 October 2019, [Kino Lorber](/source/Kino_Lorber) released the film on [Blu-ray](/source/Blu-ray),{{cite web|work=Blu-ray.com|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Baby-Blood-Blu-ray/239624/|title=Baby Blood Blu-ray|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241124183018/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Baby-Blood-Blu-ray/239624/|archive-date=24 November 2024}} On 29 October 2024, Kino Lorber issued a newly-restored [4K UHD Blu-ray](/source/Ultra_HD_Blu-ray) edition through their Kino Cult line.{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=35099|work=Blu-ray.com|title=Baby Blood 4K Blu-ray|date=30 August 2024|url-status=live|archive-date=24 November 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241124183400/https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=35099}} ==See also== {{Portalbar|Speculative fiction/Horror|France}} *[Reproduction and pregnancy in speculative fiction](/source/Reproduction_and_pregnancy_in_speculative_fiction) *[Parasitism](/source/Parasitism) ==Notes== {{notelist-lr}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==Sources== * {{cite book | last = Muir | first = John Kenneth | title = Horror Films of the 1990s | publisher = [McFarland](/source/McFarland_%26_Company) | year = 2011 | location = Jefferson, North Carolina | isbn = 978-0-7864-4012-2 }} * {{cite book | last = Lukeman | first = Adam | title = Fangoria's 101 Best Horror Movies You've Never Seen | publisher = [Random House Digital](/source/Random_House_Digital) | year = 2011 | isbn = 978-0-307-52347-1 }} ==External links== *{{IMDb title|0096871}} Category:1990 films Category:1990 horror films Category:Dimension Films films Category:Fiction about parasites Category:Films about sideshow performers Category:Films about telepathy Category:Films set in 1991 Category:Films set in Paris Category:Films shot in France Category:French body horror films Category:French pregnancy films Category:French science fiction films Category:French slasher films Category:French splatter films Category:French vampire films Category:French rape and revenge films Category:1990 direct-to-video films Category:1990 French films Category:1990 French-language films Category:1990s monster movies Category:1990 science fiction films Category:1990s vampire films --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Baby Blood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Blood) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Blood?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.