Birth/Rebirth
by Laura Moss
To say it’s been a while since I’ve done anything close to resembling a review would be an understatement, (cough cough, three years, cough) but it just so happens that I watched something recently that struck a chord. The impression this film left on me coupled with more than a handful of eye-roll inducing reviews was enough for me to get up, grab my laptop, and start writing.
Birth/Rebirth is a dark sci-fi/horror film starring Judy Reyes and Marin Ireland that tackles subject matter that most would either find unsettling or uninteresting altogether. After a little girl dies, a doctor who’s been experimenting with resurrection is soon joined by a nurse who’s willing to risk it all to get her daughter back. It’s a premise reminiscent of Frankenstein, but with a modern scientific edge and a heartbreaking storyline that is sure to make some uncomfortable.
What resonated so deeply with me were the unimaginable risks that not only a mother would take for her child, but the risks that a doctor would take for the sake of her work. The performances by all of the actresses in this film were fantastic and it was refreshing to see such an impressive predominantly female cast. I think that’s part of what made this movie work so well, was the fact that the underlying tones were so maternal and feminine, which disproves the notion that femininity and strength are not one in the same.
Ethical dilemmas abound in this film, but I mean, who doesn’t love a good controversy? I could absolutely see why people would criticize this film, due to specific sensitive subject matter, but I hardly find that Birth/Rebirth pushed any boundaries that haven’t been pushed before.
I was driven to write this review primarily because of how disappointed I was with the reviews that were already out there for this film. I have referred to this movie as a horror movie throughout this review because, in my opinion, it absolutely qualifies as a horror movie. I think fair-weather horror fans expect a more paint by numbers approach in regard to the horror genre these days. I can see how someone could sit down to watch this and throw a hissy fit about how they weren’t scared or shocked, but I’ve also seen enough to know that horror doesn’t need to have a slasher, a ghost, or six jump scares to qualify. I also have to say that the ending, though I knew where the film was headed, was fitting and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
If you are in the mood for a slow burn that I feel is a refreshing addition to the genre, I can’t recommend Birth/Rebirth enough. You can catch it streaming right now on AMC+ or Shudder.