DVD Review: The Unborn

From the co-writer of The Dark Knight and the producers who brought you The Texas Chainsaw Massacre comes a terrifying glimpse into the life of the undead in this chilling thriller that will haunt your soul. Writer and director David Goyer (The Dark Knight, Blade: Trinity) gives a terrifying glimpse into the life of the undead in The Unborn, a supernatural thriller that follows a young woman pulled into a world of nightmares when a demonic spirit haunts her and threatens everyone she loves. Own two versions on one disc, including the unrated cut too terrifying for theaters. Starring Odette Yustman (Cloverfield), Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight, Harry Potter film series), Cam Gigandet (Twilight), Meagan Good (Saw V, Stomp the Yard) and Jane Alexander (Terminator: Salvation, The Ring).

Review:
Casey Beldon (Good) is living a normal life like most teenage girls. One day she starts having strange nightmares of a ghostly child, and a contorted, vicious dog. Her friends point out that one of her irises are multiple colors, which causes her some alarm. After going to the doctor, she finds that multi-colored irises are usually affiliated with twins, but she believes she’s an only child. When Casey confronts her father, he reveals the news that she did have a twin brother, but didn’t survive child birth.

Casey’s next door neighbor, whom she babysits, seems to be a link to the ghost of her brother. He acts like a conduit, and can pass messages along to her. She just doesn’t know what is real, and what is a dream. Casey starts to realize her life is in danger and seeks out the help of a rabbi, Sendak (Oldman) to do a possible exorcism to save her from the vengeful danger haunting her.

I feel that there are far too many haunting related movies that get the green light in Hollywood. One after the other, they keep coming out, and since they keep a PG-13 rating as a smart business decision, “teeny-boppers” keep flocking to them. It’s a shame that the genre can’t branch out anymore than that. If the horror genre wants to entertain adults, you have to go the “Saw” and “Hostel” route. However, if they want to bring in the bucks at the multiplex, they figure that they better haunt somebody, and go with the quick, cheap scares. The couple things that gave me hope for this installment was front running Gary Oldman as the rabbi, and the helming David S. Goyer behind the penning of the script. Michael Bay and his “Platinum Dunes” production company also sunk their teeth into this picture. I really don’t think that this ship needed anymore help sinking , it set sail with holes throughout already.

Review by Charlie Giltenboth

Grade: C
Official site: http://www.theunbornmovie.net/
Buy on Amazon: The Unborn