Le berceau de la vengeance

How does one go about adding to a genre where every scenario has been done, every point made, and most important of all, all of the details, plot items and twists so often done in a similar fashion that they tend to become clichés? One makes a campy throwback to the genre, using and spoofing the clichés and in no way venturing on any new ground. I can't imagine that this film was supposed to be taken seriously. The negative reviews seem to do so, hence their less than favorable reaction and view of the movie. The lead character finds that she's unable to give birth, robbing her of her dream of a family. So what else to do than try to avenge her situation... through a wide selection of manipulations as well as several hissy fits. I don't think it actually gets any more formulaic than that. Same goes for the cinematography and for the most part, the editing. There's very little ingenuity or creative energy put in, there. I did think the score was fair, with a delightfully ultra-campy addition... in at least two pieces of music, I noticed the tones and rhythm of the "Mockingbird" lullaby(which the main character is heard singing several times, altering the lyrics to fit the immediate scene) that had been mixed in, almost seamlessly. The acting is mostly overdone, making supposedly serious scenes funny, intentionally or not. The intense scenes are done OK, but as most everything else about the film, they're mostly good for a laugh. The dialog almost sounds smart, at times, but there's not far between the really silly exchanges. The plot just barely holds up, but it certainly doesn't surprise(or really draw you in). The pacing is OK. In spite of having watched this before, I wasn't terribly bored(then again, I couldn't remember or recognize much of what I saw, either). Really, from the opening scene of Delta Burke singing earlier mentioned lullaby, there's little doubt that this is campy... and I'm almost certain that it was on purpose. Know what to expect from this one. I recommend it to fans of camp and spoof films that disguise themselves(badly) as serious entries in the genres that they parody. 6/10

MATERNAL INSTINCTS stars Delta Burke as Tracy Horton, who is desperate to have a baby. Her husband is amazed by her zealous pre-planning. When circumstances arise that render Tracy unable to conceive, she doesn't take it well.

Now, everyone Tracy holds responsible for her "barren" condition is on her enemies list, including her pregnant doctor! Indeed, Tracy's slipped a few gears, and not even her husband is safe.

Fans of Ms. Burke should love seeing her so unhinged, wreaking havoc, and going completely berserk in a bathroom stall! She plays her role with gusto, making her vengeful onslaught a wonder to behold!

BEST PART: Tracy's cold, calculated destruction of her doctor's life is delectably eeevil!

The final, wrench-swinging showdown slaps the icing on this cake good and proper!...

Some people can't get enough of these " stalker from hell " type movies right ? We've had SINGLE WHITE FEMALE , UNLAWFUL ENTRY etc and there was nowhere for the genre left to go . Enter MATERNAL INSTINCTS which spoofs this type of thriller

Tracy Horton wants a baby . She goes into hospital and it's found she's suffering from cancer of the womb so she is given an emergency hysterectomy which means she cant have children . This sets up the story for some comedy touches . At least I think they were comedy touches , well of course they're comedy touches I mean no one can take take the dialogue seriously can they . I mean what sort of idiot would write a line where a character wakes up in hospital and says :

" You mean I can't have children ? Why didn't you just kill me ? "

Does anyone need me to point out that Doctors aren't allowed to kill their patients on purpose ? If you want to get killed on purpose move to London and attract the attention of the police . Tracy doesn't seem to know this so it's left to other people to point out simple truths to her like :

" If you bought a lottery ticket yesterday you could have been a millionaire today "

Obviously Tracy is very frustrated about not knowing this because it seems to turn her into a sociopath , I mean she can't have children and she never buys a lottery ticket so who wouldn't be frustrated in her position so she takes her anger out on Dr Eva Warden , the woman who was responsible for saving her life . I won't spoil what happens but look out for the climax which rips off the original TERMINATOR movie .

Very sophisticated spoof that knowingly winks to a critical audience who always ask awkward questions like " Why didn't Tracy have children long before this " Probably because they cast someone who looks like a cross between Roseanne Barr and Elvira . Would you want to give her a baby ? Would you even be capable of getting aroused ? Very sophisticated spoof . I do hope it's a spoof

Delta Burke pulls quite a Jekyll & Hyde in this TV-made rip-off of "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle". A childless woman, desperate to have a baby, must undergo an emergency hysterectomy to save her life; upon recovery, she feels her chances at having a family have been stolen and goes after the female doctor who performed the surgery, systematically ruining the woman's life and career. Exploitation of real-life horrors is played to the hilt by Burke, twinkling like an evil, overgrown pixie. Still, it's shameful swill, and one is almost embarrassed to get caught up in the outrageous plot contrivances, amusing as they are. That said, the climactic showdown doesn't quite work (it's the only sequence which is awkwardly staged) and the "Psycho"-inspired tag at the end pushes the seriousness of the subject (revenge, kidnapping, etc.) into camp territory that renders the rest of the movie cartoonish.

I saw this film one night when I was sleeping during the day and was awake through the night. I think I was about 14 when I saw it and I have to say that even now, three years later when I think about it I feel completely sick. It was just completely twisted as far as I am concerned and I watch horror movies all the time with no problem.

The whole thing of this calculating character, her motives weren't set up effectively and stalking her gynecologist was just all completely wrong and you could see the contrivance behind the whole thing. I really wouldn't recommend watching this film unless you have a really strong constitution because it's completely sick and demented.