Birth/Rebirth

It's not often that the horror genre throws up an original idea these days, but this film is a rare example demonstrating that it is still possible. It is a twisted and disturbing tale that avoids falling into established genre cliches. Not an easy film to watch, especially for the squeamish, with lots of blood and body parts on display. But for those with strong constitutions, the story is gradually revealed, drawing the viewer ever more deeply into the twisted plot and the increasingly mad behaviours of the two lead characters. The acting is very good, somehow managing to engage the viewer whilst at the same time revealing the repellent nature of their actions.

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.

"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.

It is not a true horror, but it is medically graphic, so be warned. Both lead actors do a good job, taking their respective characters in two long gradual arcs. One from an emotionally cold, socially marooned, savant existence, to eventually showing some small instances of warmth and connection, possibly even yearning?

The other, from a warm, caring, nurse, mother, to being morally complicit in their dubious scheme to cheat death.

Tension is driven along by good editing and an idiosyncratic, edgy soundtrack, that draws you in to the point where you yourself feel complicit, as you root for the pair, in their dastardly, if well intentioned, endeavours. It is however broken at a few points with some, I am sure, deliberate humour.

It could have had the last 8 minutes or so cut off to make a tidy 90 minutes. As by this time it had tailed off into borderline nonsense.

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.