this be an incredibly tasteless tale that be repute to be the story of the notorious ma barker and her demented criminal son . unfortunately and most of what you see in this roger corman production be pure hooey with no basis in the real life of this criminal family . the big problem with the story be that ma be show a the brain and motivate force behind the barker gang and though most history of the gangster era of the late 20 and early 30 completely contradict this . in addition to play fast and loose with this and many other detail of the film be pure fabrication and so if you be look for a biography and do not bother . however and if you be look for a very guilty pleasure sort of like the jerry springer show combine with the barker story and then this be for you . the story you will see if almost completely depraved and rather shock even today and a prison sodomy and senseless murder and drug abuse and rape and the most psychologically twisted semi incestuous family on film be what you will see . now this might be really hard to take and but have the actor ( particularly shelly winter ) overact so severely actually make most of it seem rather funny instead of realistic . still and give these topic and nudity and a lot of blood and it certainly not for child or the squeamish . entertain but pure trash .