El nonato

A childless couple (Brooke Adams, Jeff Hayenga) go to a doctor (James Karen) to try to conceive. It works but Adams slowly becomes aware that there's something seriously wrong with the baby...

Pretty interesting idea is thoroughly done in by a lousy script--the basic idea is OK but becomes screamingly predictable towards the end. I saw every "twist" coming. The direction is poor--he seems to have no idea how to shoot a basic scene. The production values are--to be nice--lousy. Very shabby. And, the gore scenes are too unpleasant (I almost turned it off when a pregnant woman started stabbing herself in the stomach) with lousy special effects. The film completely derails at the end when it becomes quite clear they had no idea HOW to end this film.

Some good acting makes it somewhat bearable. Adams, Hayenga and Karen are all good at their roles and kept me watching but that was about it. This film barely got released in 1991 and still remains unknown--it's easy to see why. I give it a 4.

I had actually never heard about this 1991 horror movie titled "The Unborn" before now in 2023, as I had the opportunity to sit down and watch it. And of course I opted to watch it, on account of it being a horror movie that I hadn't already seen.

I didn't really have any expectations to writers John Brancato and Michael Ferris, so they had every opportunity to entertain and impress me here.

The movie was watchable, sure, but it was hardly an outstanding horror movie. So I hadn't been missing out on a cinematic gem in horror cinema. Not really a memorable horror movie in terms of script and storyline, and I doubt I will ever return to watch director Rodman Flender's 1991 movie a second time.

Something that was nice about "The Unborn", was the cast ensemble. I was really surprised to see the likes of James Karen, Lisa Kudrow and Kathy Griffin in a movie such as this. It should be said, though, that leading actress Brooke Adams was nicely cast for the movie.

Visually then "The Unborn" wasn't much to write home about. Fair enough special effects, but again, nothing outstanding really.

My rating of "The Unborn" lands on a five out of ten stars.

I am an average Horror/Sci-Fi/Thriller/Creature Feature movie buff. I am 62 and have seen them all including the Asian Creature Features to the Nordic Horrors. I will give anyone their right to an opinion....but.....the rating system on many of the movies on this sight have been skewed by someone having a bad day.

Very few Horror et.al.movies make it to the Oscars. So what...those of us who are fanatics of these films have an odd sense of appreciation for the unbelievable.

The Unborn is a good movie....I like Brooke Adams....I like mad scientists...I like freaky things that squish in the night...I like house wives that are slightly nuts....I like husbands who don't have a clue....I like Lisa Kudrow (did you see her????) Those of you who want to sit back and watch a really good Sci-Fi/Horror will have fun with this one. So skip the ratings and watch the movie. (And don't forget the popcorn.)

My review was written in April 1991 after watching the film on video cassette.

Pregnancy fears make for an effective horror topic in "The Unborn", an entertaining though tasteless shocker. Film is currently in regional theatrical release and will turn on video fans.

Brroke Adams returns to the paranoid horror turf of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", portraying a young wife and author of children's books who has a history of miscarriages and turns to a mysterious doctor (James Karen) for help.

Unfortunately for her, he's your friendly neighborhood mad scientist, altering sperm (in this case from Brooke's sympathetic husband, Jef Hayenga) to create a master race of superintelligent babies who will supplant humans.

Manic-depressive Adams has a medical history that makes her suspect, so when she starts to cry wolf, beginning on a tv talk show promoting her latest tome, no one believes her. Though well along in her pregnancy, she gets an abortion (illegally), but her worries aren't over.

The fetus lives on and debuting director Rodman Flender gets good mileage out of her ambivalent findings towards the monstrous offspring. Film's open ending is quite unsettling.

With good performances, notably by Adams and Karen, the film draws in the willing viewer. The monster baby, as created by Joe Podnar, is unconvincing, but Podnar's makeup effects are suitably gruesome. Flender's one misstep is the inclusion of an unnecessary subplot ridiculing two lesians who run a nautral childbirth class that excludes men.

The Unborn is a pretty good low-budget horror movie exploiting the fears associated with pregnancy. It's very well acted by the always-good Brooke Adams and b-movie stalwart James Karen, although the supporting cast is pretty average for a b-grader. The music, by Gary Numan of all people, is good too. Henry Dominic's script is quite intelligent for this sort of thing, although there is a hint of misogyny about it. Rodman Fender's direction is merely adequate, and there are some unnecessary cheap scares. If you're a fan of Adams, whose movie career is nowhere near as illustrious as it should be, check it out; she's great, as always.