Bloody Mama (1970)

Set in rural depression era Arkansas, a psychologically disturbed mother (Shelley Winters) overindulges her four sons. She decides to abandon her husband (Alex Nicol) and goes off on a robbing and killing spree with her sons and becomes known as the infamous Ma Barker gang. Very loosely based on the real Ma Barker and directed by Roger Corman (MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH). While I'm a big fan of Corman's Poe inspired horror films, I find the rest of his filmography hit and miss. I have mixed feelings about this one. I can't dismiss its entertainment value but it never rises above its B movie origins into anything really interesting. In short, it's no BONNIE AND CLYDE (clearly an inspiration for this movie). Then there's Winters at her shrill over the top worst! Fortunately, the supporting cast give subtler performances. Corman attempts to utilize the screen violence of BONNIE AND CLYDE but it feels sleazy and exploitative. With a young Robert De Niro, Diane Varsi, Bruce Dern, Don Stroud, Pat Hingle and Robert Walden.