“The Unborn” (2009): Brave, Bold, but Unbelievable?

The Unborn centers on a young woman who has suddenly started having strange dreams and visions. She discovers some rather alarming news about her family history. This discovery is ultimately at the root of all the horror that has been unleashed during the film’s 87-minute running time. The images are disturbing to say the least. But the story’s creepy premise is immediately set into stone with a bleak atmosphere. But as with most horror movies being released these days, there are the typical pitfalls that keep The Unborn from having the kind of impact that it could have had. On a positive note, the movie does have its high points, which depending upon your “horror film sensitivities”, could make this movie either mediocre or really great. You decide. (POSSIBLE SPOILERS ALERT!)

Coming out of the Gate…

“Jumby wants to be born now.” This is the phrase that kick-started the bizarre series of events immediately following the heroine’s creepy dream and babysitting gig. Some movies try hard to interject foreboding lines into their scripts. But the ominous inflection in this line’s delivery does a good job setting the tone of the film.

The Banter

Kudos to filmmakers for attempting to diversify the cast with an assortment of young adults. But the banter between Casey (Odette Yustman) and Romy (played by Meagan Good) has Teen Flick written all over it. The dynamics in female relationships in horror films have always been a bit melodramatic. But once you begin sinking into The Unborn‘s plot, the mood is interrupted by frivolous dialogue.

The Movie’s “Image”

Considering the nature of this film, it’s interesting to note that controversy erupted over the images used to market the commercial DVDs and other materials. The DVD cover art, which features a rear camera shot of an underwear-clad Yustman in the bathroom-is one of the images in question. What’s also fascinating is that despite the controversy, the film itself contains very little in the way of unwarranted sexuality. One semi-nude love scene exists between Casey and her boyfriend-a very tame, rather unnecessary exchange–considering that it does nothing to convince audiences of the characters’ chemistry.

A Little Superstition

It’s always refreshing to see that horror film directors have tapped into the supernatural for inspiration. Execs behind The Unborn have done just that by interjecting a tiny little superstition about babies and mirrors.

Newborns aren’t supposed to see their reflection until they’re a year old.” This obscure superstition has cropped up in several different cultures. In this case, the superstition was used to add to the storyline’s creepiness and present a lead-in for the next conflict. In fact, mirrors later play a large part in the film. The mirrors might have upped the ante on The Unborn‘s scare factor. But when Casey goes into a fit, breaking them—you’re immediately reminded of yet another recent horror flick (“Mirrors”, 2008.)

The Scare Factor

One great thing about The Unborn is that it is fraught with loopy shock images (bugs, swirling vision, and other hallucinations. Overall however, The movie offers lots of frightening imagery. The images of animals and humans with upside-down heads crawling on all fours were quite nightmarish and cleverly applied in the film. There was potential for these effects to be overused. But they fit into the landscape of the movie in such a way that each instance feels legitimate.

The “Meat” of the Story

The concept of the dybbuk is new to most people. That is perhaps because this legend is indigenous to Jewish culture, something not frequently seen in mainstream horror. This was a refreshing twist, as most horror films feature evil entities that can only be banished by the Catholic Church. However, any notion of originality is lost when the exorcism antics take over towards the climactic ending. Is this premise believable? For many people, the notion is indeed conceivable. But there also exists the nagging suspicion that filmmakers were merely looking for a new way to warm up old ideas.

Genetic Mosaicism

This term was introduced in the film to explain the strange discoloration which occurs in Casey’s eye. This prompts her to research her background-and the mystery unravels more. The condition is in fact, a real one. Insinuating it into the script was a cunning way to tie the pieces of the story together. But the scenes following Casey’s medical discovery are filled with such melodrama, that viewers can become too “disconnected” to pick up on all the clues that follow.

The Discovery

While it is necessary to follow Casey throughout her research to understand what’s going on in the movie, the acts themselves had somewhat of a Scooby Doo-like appeal. How much digging do people typically do when they receive surprising news about their Mom or Dad’s adoptive parents? In The Unborn, Casey’s curiosity is definitely warranted. But the sweeping speeches offered in between conflicts water down the scary effect.

Gratuitous Movie Blunders

Casey and her friends attempt to shake off the strange occurrences by hanging at a night club. This scene could have been much scarier than it actually was had all the patrons not looked like pretty reality show rejects. While extras are standard “props” in nearly all films, the ones shown in The Unborn look like carbon clones of one another. The intelligent application of effects to warp their faces added a nice punch, however. The mysterious boy makes an appearance on the dance floor (more than likely with a fake ID); and Casey freaks out. It becomes apparent to viewers that authenticity of thi is not the focus: Casey has yet another terrifying episode with the dybbuk in the nightclub’s ladies’ room—where she happens to be the only guest. Considering that these crowded venues have snaking bathroom lines, how is it that Casey is conveniently alone?

The Verdict

You will be entertained by The Unborn if you’ve been removed from mainstream horror fare for a while. The story itself is engaging enough that one can become engrossed in the details. But for those who need the raw stimulation that foreign and indie films provide, this piece of cinema might seem a bit too watered-down.

In all fairness, there are several shining moments where the cast (and their performances) are concerned. Idris Elba offers an unexpected appearance on screen. And Hollywood Chameleon, Gary Oldham provides yet another effortlessly brilliant performance as the rabbi whom Casey consults. Perhaps with a little refinement and a toning down of the movie’s glam factor The Unborn might have packed more of a frightening punch. But with a lack of really scary movies on the market, beggars can’t be choosy.

SOURCES:

www.netflix.com
www.imdb.com
www.rottentomatoes.com

Reference:

• www.imdb.com