The Unborn (2020) Movie Review
Written By: JASR
Edited By: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Tal Lazar
Producers: Ohad Ashkenazi, Tal Lazar, David M. Milch, Assaf Mor, Phil Newsom
Writer: Danny Matier
Date Released: May 1, 2020 (USA)
Cast:
Manni L. Perez as Tiffany
Chris Bellant as Joey
Jesse R. Tendler as Mick
Clifton Samuels as Henry
J. Richey Nash as Carl
Brian David Tracy as Dr. Thatcher
Deborah Stile as Irene Thatcher
Carys McGrory as Thatcher’s Daughter
Asher Edgecliffe-Johnson as Thatcher’s Son
Dameka Hayes as Natalie
Rating = 1.5/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
Tiffany (Manni L. Perez), a pregnant woman working as a security guard, is working during the night shift at an old building with her colleague, Joey (Chris Bellant). The eerie events that night start small – such as the voices of singing children. Tiffany and Joey soon experience creepier and more uncanny occurrences – such as the sight of two children and even the death of their colleague. The two security guards must use their knowledge and strength to keep themselves safe while trying to battle with the unknown.
Gore Factor
At the beginning of the movie, one would think that the gore is quite minimal. However, as more events happen, the characters become left with no choice but to deal with blood and gore. One of the characters decides to bite his finger off, and another character deals with the pain of having her tummy cut with a knife. If you’re a sensitive viewer, these scenes will surely make you flinch.
The Grave Review
Since most of the events in The Unborn (2020) happen in just one building, the movie can make viewers feel like they are in a haunted attraction – specifically a horror house. The creepy kids, eerie laughs, and an unusual creature are like elements that were taken from a horror house attraction and borrowed for the movie. The thing with attractions like that is you are usually aware that they are just human beings in costumes – and unfortunately for this movie, that’s exactly what it feels like as well.
One way to tell that a movie is effective and realistic is when you forget that it’s a movie with a cast and a team behind it. You tend to get lost in the film’s world and feel like you’re in the movie yourself. However, this movie doesn’t give that feeling at all. While watching, I only got a heightened sense of awareness of the actors’ movements, the script, the effects, and all those elements. I didn’t feel engaged with the events, nor did I feel attached to the characters.
Nonetheless, I noticed that the movie is able to show situations that we usually fear or imagine when we do all-nighters. When working or studying alone at the wee hours of the morning, while everyone else is asleep, we tend to visualize creepy scenarios that we don’t want to experience. The Unborn shows us glimpses of that. Also, even though the kid ghosts still look like ordinary humans in costumes, the first sight of them can still be creepy for the most sensitive viewers.
The movie uses the technique wherein they use a specific song that the audience will remember – so that they will think of the movie whenever they hear the song. It was a good attempt and a smart technique that not all horror movies use, however, I think it could have been used more effectively. The movie also does not rely on jump scares. It mainly relies on scoring – which some viewers might appreciate.
I appreciate how the security guards are efficient in doing their job. They are alert and they do not immediately think of the paranormal when experiencing the uncanny events – which can be noted as a realistic component. However, the attempt to be creepy fails when the shadow of one of the antagonists appears as a photo on Tiffany’s phone when he calls her. That’s just extremely unrealistic and quite annoying for the audience.
Moreover, I can’t help but wonder and ask about the antagonists’ intentions. What do they want? There may be an implication that they want Tiffany’s baby, but if so, the writer didn’t seem to effectively utilize Tiffany’s situation. If that’s what the antagonists want, the movie should have shown more about it.
Overall, The Unborn has a promising plot but still lacks a handful of chilling and terrifying factors.
For the foregoing reasons, Grave Reviews gives The Unborn (2020) one and a half graves out of five graves.
Do you agree with our review of The Unborn (2020)? Comment below.
Join the Conversation