The Unborn

Posted on February 23, 2009 at 5:41 pm by lkeddie | Permalink

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Released 27th February 2009

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Hands up those who Googled ‘dybbuk’ after watching this film, the term for a malicious possessing spirit, believed to be the dislocated soul of a dead person? It’s about the only thing you really take away from writer/director David S. Goyer’s creep fest of fairly clichéd happenings. Indeed, ‘dislocated soul’ is rather ironic, here, given the film leaps from scene to new scene, without really paying attention to what’s happening, and ignoring the heart of the story in a chaotic, disjointed and impatient attempt to get to the grand reveal (which isn’t all that grand, actually). The really surprising thing was just how the usually impressive Gary Oldman got caught up in the questionable proceedings, agreeing to play a rabbi who must perform an exorcism, based on Kabbalah folklore. Oldman as a strait-laced cop in the Batman series was a little difficult to swallow, but as a holy man is even more far-fetched. Is he getting soft in his old age? What happened to playing ‘plain crazy’, where he excels?

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The Unborn does offer up the usual recipe of chill factors necessary to create a few jumpy moments (and there are some): the menacing-looking young boy; satanic light-blue eyes; mirror obsessions; creepy crawlies; sinister ‘gothic’ building surroundings; and a wise old lady with all the answers who snuffs it after trying to help out the heroine. Oh, and no horror would be complete without a sexy, young lead (Odette Yustman) showing more than a little flesh to titillate and keep the red-blooded interest flowing, complete with equally desirable screen friends. But like most films of this genre, there is sparse character development to prompt us to care about the well-being of the lead — or in this case little spiritual development — for us to really grasp WHY the devil this is happening to Casey and her departed family members? Just why is this thing so hell-bent on isolating and destroying her? Actually, it doesn’t make sense, considering the gaping ending left open for a possible sequel, where it’s revealed that Casey is pregnant with twins, presumably to give birth to an evil heir — much like a present-day version of Rosemary’s Baby. Either the ancient evil spirit wants her dead, or alive as a human incubator? Confused? You will be…

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Yet another mirror-obsessed, home-grown US horror that delivers the ’same old’ formula, The Unborn will be lapped up by fans of the genre and hormonal teens lusting after its young stars. Interesting to know if Goyer is a Kabbalah convert now, considering the favourable message of the ’saving grace’ of the Juddaism off-shoot? One thing is for sure — if there is any message to be had from this dubious effort, it’s repent now and embrace religion fast to be saved, or a dybbuk could come after you…

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By Lisa Keddie

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Synopsis

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Sometimes the soul of a dead person has been so tainted with evil that it is denied entrance to heaven. It must endlessly wander the borderlands between worlds, desperately searching for a new body to inhabit. And sometimes it actually succeeds.

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Casey Bell hated her mother for leaving her as a child. But when inexplicable things start to happen, Casey begins to understand why she left. Plagued by merciless dreams and a tortured ghost that haunts her waking hours, she must turn to the only spirtual advisor, Rabbi Sendak, who can make it stop.

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With Sendak’s help, Casey uncovers the source of a family curse dating back to Nazi Germany — a creature with the ability to inhabit anyone or anything that is getting stronger with each possession. With the curse unleashed, her only chance at survival is to shut a doorway from beyond our world that has been pried open by someone who was never born.

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Film Facts

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Official UK site: http://www.theunbornmovie.co.uk/

UK Release Date: 27th February 2009

Director: David S. Goyer

Writer: David S. Goyer

Cast: Gary Oldman (’Rabbi Sendak’), Odette Yustman (’Casey Beldon’), Cam Gigandet (’Mark Hardigan’), Jane Alexander (’Sofi Kozma’), Meagan Good (’Romy’), Carla Gugino (’Janet Beldon’) Idris Elba (’Arthur Wyndham’), Rhys Coiro (’Mr.Shields’), James Remar (’Gordon Beldon’), Atticus Shaffer (Matty Newton’)