udar55 After accidentally killing a girl, teenager Ronald Wilby (Scott Jacoby) is hidden away from cops in a secret room in the house by his domineering mother (Kim Hunter). Poor Ronald is left all alone when she passes away. Sad Ronald finds the situation gets better and worse when Mr. Wood (Dabney Coleman) moves into the house with his wife and three daughters. Bad Ronald, whose mindset is becoming increasingly delusional, becomes fixated on the youngest daughter (Cindy Fisher) and begins to imagine she is the princess for the imaginary kingdom in his head. Highly effective TV-movie from director Buzz Kulik that is based on the novel by John Holbrook Vance. You do actually feel sorry for the boy and Jacoby gives a great performance, especially for a teen. The end is very rushed, but it is after all a TV movie. Expanded and it could be a top-notch thriller that still would work today. When I see something like this I wonder why Hollywood never tackles this kind of material for a remake (the French did a version in the early 1990s).

Woodyanders Gawky misfit teen Ronald (a truly spooky and unnerving performance by Scott Jacoby; the gimpy magician in "The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane") accidentally kills a bratty little girl. He's subsequently hidden in a secret room of an old Victorian house by his sickly, smothering mother (a wonderful portrayal by "Planet of the Apes" film series regular Kim Hunter) in order to avoid being arrested by the authorities. Mom dies and a new family -- father Dabney Coleman, mother Pippa Scott, and their three hottie daughters Cindy Fisher, Cindy Eibacher and Lisa Eibacher -- move into the swanky and enormous abode. Ronald loses his grip on reality and disappears into an elaborate fantasy world created by his own warped overactive imagination. One fateful day he comes out of his clandestine hideaway hole to terrorize the hapless adolescent lasses when the parents leave for the weekend.One of the all-time classic 70's made-for-TV horror psycho thrillers, "Bad Ronald" 's extremely fantastic and far-fetched premise is made reasonably credible and totally compelling by journeyman TV show veteran Buzz Kulik's capable direction (along with his episodic TV show credits, Kulik also helmed the enjoyable Burt Reynolds private eye picture "Shamus" and the underrated Steve McQueen action vehicle "The Hunter"). Fred Karlin's effectively eerie score and a top-rate cast make this feature a cut above average TV movie fare. Popping up in especially nice bits are John Larch as a shrewd homicide detective and John Fiedler as a friendly real estate agent. Yeah, this film is fairly preposterous, but thankfully Jacoby's unforgettably creepy and disturbing character keeps the show gripping and harrowing right down to its thrilling climax. Jacoby's role as a murderously messed-up teenage nerd deserves a place right alongside "The Bad Seed" 's Patty McCormack and the Udvarnovsky brothers from "The Other" in the All-Time Scary Killer Kids Hall of Infamy.

Amanda Pichurko I remember watching this movie when I was probably 13 years old. It came on late Friday or Saturday night, probably in a series called "Up All Night". If I remember correctly that was on the USA network. I remember that this movie, scared the crap out of me. The one scene where his neighbor is peeking in the window, still haunts me because I can still see her face. I wish they would release it to DVD. It gives me the creeps, but I will watch it again. If anyone knows where I can find it on DVD please let me know. It has been 18 years and I still think about it every now and then. It probably helped contribute to my insomnia when I was a kid. HA HA.

preppy-3 Nerdy high school student Ronald (Scott Jacoby) accidentally kills a fellow female classmate who is making fun of him (he pushes her and her head hits a brick). He goes home and tells his VERY overprotective mother (Kim Hunter). She decides to help him. She has him cover up the door of the guest bedroom and have him hide in there. Then she goes to the hospital for an operation...and dies. Ronald finds out and begins to go crazy. Then a family moves in with some beautiful teenage girls...Highly improbable TV movie. I saw it on TV back in 1974 when I was 12. I watched it cause it was being sold as a horror movie but, even at that age, I quickly realized how silly this was. A mother protecting her son when he murders someone? A family moves into a house and doesn't notice a whole section sealed off? And Ronald has holes in the wall to look out--and nobody notices????? The stupidity level is high here. Also it has a bad title and a lousy ending But, in a way, it's kind of OK. Jacoby isn't bad and Hunter has always been good. For a quickly made TV movie it's not bad. Still...nothing to seek out. I give it a 5 (mostly for the acting).