Two out of
Five stars
Running time:
87 mins
Well made, but ultimately underwhelming horror that never really comes to life, despite some creepy visuals and a handful of cheap shocks.
What's it all about?
Odette Yustman (who looks like she's been cloned from Megan Fox) stars as Casey, a young woman who's troubled by a dream in which she encounters a creepy-looking child and a weird dog with a mask. However, when the figures from her dreams start appearing in her waking life, she's compelled to investigate her family history and discovers that she was originally a twin, only her brother died in the womb.
Realising that her visions might have something to do with the suicide of her mother (Carla Gugino), Casey's investigations lead her to her grandmother (Jane Alexander), who tells her tales of Nazi experiments and demonic spirits known as dybbuks. With the aid of her best friend (Meagan Good), her boyfriend (Cam Gigandet) and a kindly spiritual advisor (Gary Oldman as Rabbi Sendak), Casey has to find a way to stop the dybbuk before it's too late.
The Good
If all you require from a horror film is a gorgeous female lead (who spends several scenes in tight tops and tiny pants), some creepy special effects and a handful of cheap shocks, then The Unborn has your name written all over it. Yustman makes an entirely watchable lead, while Meagan Good adds the film's only note of humour as her foul-mouthed best friend (her best moment is when she tells a creepy kid to fuck off).
The Bad
Unfortunately, the film drags considerably in the middle section and never really comes to life – indeed, as creepy as some of the visuals are, there's never a real sense of danger or terror. In addition, the movement of the dybbuk is never really explained and doesn't seem to make sense.
It also has a shock ending that backfires slightly, because the twist would actually make a stronger premise than the film you've just seen.
Worth seeing?
The Unborn is a watchable but underwhelming horror that delivers a handful of shocks and not much else.