Birth/Rebirth

Laura Moss' engrossing medical thriller is an update on the regeneration of the dead theme. Pathologist Dr. Rose Casper (a determined Marin Ireland) has been experimenting with reviving dead tissue of animals. Opportunity knocks one day when a six year old girl Lila (A. J. Lister) is wheeled into the morgue. Dr. Casper springs into action making the dead child her biggest experiment yet. Things get infinitely more complicated when Lila's mother, Celie (a fierce Judy Reyes), finds out. Celie happens to be a nurse.

What makes Moss and co-writer Brenden J. O'Brien's screenplay so involving is that it focuses more on parenting and morality than the experiment itself. The story sets up a fascinating dynamic between the two medical professionals. As Lila's mother, Celie, obviously has a maternal attachment to her daughter, but, there is also a symbiotic relationship that develops between the Creator and her Creation. Dr. Casper is fully committed to her work, even using her own body as a vessel for her experiments. Still, a mother's bond is inviolate. It becomes more than just a test of wills, everything is at stake for both women -- even at the expense of the Lila's unfortunate soul.

Moss' direction is gripping and the script plays out in an intelligent direction save for one miss-step which seems to be included as if to justify the "horror film" label. It does get gruesome, but never for it's own sake. The basic theme, of course, goes back to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein myth. There are no significant male characters. It's a powerful collaboration between Moss and her four main actresses (Breeda Wool plays an expectant mother who gets caught up in the crossfire). Ireland and Reyes are exceptional as the dueling women at the center of the tale.

BIRTH/REBIRTH updates an old tale. The storytelling isn't the most innovative, but it's smartly told and genuinely thought-provoking - not to mention disturbing.

Oh my word. This is the type of movie that you just stare at the screen after it's all done and ask yourself, what in the world did I just watched......but in a good way. The story for me was brilliant, original and surprising.

The bloody beginning got me really curious but after half way in, I was still wondering what this was movie about. Was it about illegal organ trade market? Was it about a mad doctor eating organs who does IVF on herself? It was just weird and naturally all fingers were pointing at this doctor, not knowing the person I thought would be the antagonist wasn't. It's a really smart but wierd story. I loved the acting and the characters.

Definitely not for the inpatient. This is a movie that requires your full attention inorder to truly appreciate what is going on. Give it a moment if you love drama/thrillers.

Overrated as hell, by no means this is a 77/100 movie (Current Metascore rating). Furthermore, this is mislabelled. It's not horror neither thriller. This is a sci fi drama. Many people who are gonna watch it in order to get scared or enjoy themselves, will be disappointed. This is not an enjoyable movie neither mindless fun. Plot is really heavy.

However, this has nothing to do with the movie. It's not director's fault it's mislabelled or overrated.

Actors are very good. Always a pleasure watching "Carla" from SCRUBS, she is definitely skilled enough for more dramatic roles. Marin Ireland nailed it, too.

Plot was really heavy though. I didn't expect something like this. To be honest, if i knew this was a sci fi psychological drama, i wouldn't watch it, at least these days. So, if you are in the mood for a sci fi drama with very good acting performances, a drama about motherhood above all, you will probably like it more than me. I didn't enjoy it, therefore I cannot recommend it. Remember, this has nothing to do with horror.

In any case, it's not boring and the ending is rushed.

"Birth/Rebirth" is a psychological horror film that explores the consequences of playing God and the ethics of medical advancements. It follows two mothers, Rose and Celie, with contrasting perspectives on life and death. Their lives intersect when Celie's daughter dies, and Rose's experiments to bring the dead back to life become relevant. The film delves into the emotional impact of this resurrection on both mothers, raising questions about the boundaries of maternal instincts. It features unsettling and graphic scenes, drawing inspiration from David Cronenberg and classic horror literature. Laura Moss approaches the concept of body horror and extreme maternal instincts from a feminist perspective, leaving a lingering impact without relying on jump scares.

There was the movie The Influencer from Shudder I watched recently and now this one. Its cool to see the streaming service evolve over a short time, and now producing some of the best horror movies coming out in recent years.

The two things which sold this movie to me, was one the medical research detail, and secondly the special effects. Although bringing someone back to life is pretty implausible, this movie goes as far as it can do to sell the idea to those (like my self) who are not medically trained.

The medical sequences do look very realistic, and the story does get dug in to the science and procedures, where most other dumbed down horror modern movies fear to tread.