The Unborn Movie
| Resolution | Size | Download | ||
|
1920x800 | 8106.94 MiB | 1080p | |
|
1280x536 | 4479.94 MiB | 720p | |
|
712x296 | 701.61 MiB | divx | |
|
480x200 | 372.16 MiB | ipod | |
Storyline
TAGLINES
Evil will do anything to live.
Evil wants to be born now
While babysitting a boy and his baby brother, Casey Beldon has a dreadful nightmare involving a weird dog and an evil child, and she tells her best friend Romy over the phone. Casey is haunted by this boy, and when she goes to the ophthalmologist, he asks if she has a twin brother or sister. She asks her father and discovers that her mother lost a son that died in the womb. Casey suspects that she is haunted by the spirit of her brother. She finds a letter addressed to a woman called Sofi Kozma and a creepy picture at home that belonged to her mother. She goes with Romy to a retirement home to meet Sofi, a survivor of the experiments during the Holocaust. But Sofi tells Casey that she had never met her mother and later calls Casey to tell her she is in great danger.
| Odette Yustman | Casey Beldon |
| Gary Oldman | Rabbi Sendak |
| Meagan Good | Romy |
| Cam Gigandet | Mark Hardigan |
| Idris Elba | Arthur Wyndham |
| Jane Alexander | Sofi Kozma |
| Atticus Shaffer | Matty Newton |
| James Remar | Gordon Beldon |
| Carla Gugino | Janet Beldon |
| C.S. Lee | Dr. Lester Caldwell |
| Michael Sassone | Eli Walker |
| Ethan Cutkosky | Barto |
| Craig J. Harris | Rick Hesse |
| Rachel Brosnahan | Lisa Shepherd |
| Kymberly Mellen | Gail Newton |
| David S. Goyer |
4.50 out of 10 (7983 votes)
Visitor Reviews
A Jewish version of the "Exorcist"
posted on 31 Aug 2009I basically rented this horror film because David Goyer (Blade, The Dark Knight) wrote and directed and because Gary Oldman was in it. Unfortunately, this flick was a disappointment on many levels. There are cliches abound in the script and Oldman's part as the Rabbi could've been played by anyone as well as fellow Brit Idris Elba's part as the minister--I guess they were both in for the paycheck. The only pluses in this film are Jane Alexander's brief turn as the heroine's grandmother, Odette Yustman in her undies looking like a Victoria Secret's model and the excellent Blu-ray transfer. If you looking for a better film in this genre, check out "The Midnight Meat Train" or "Candyman" (the original but not the sequels).
Not bad at all.
posted on 31 Aug 2009As far as modern horror goes, this was pretty good. The plot was a little convoluted, but it was quite stylish and had genuinely creepy moments and very disturbing images. I guess I have not seen some of the films referenced by some reviewers saying this film is cliched. The cinematography was quite good, making the movie very entertaining to look at. And Odette Yustman? Wow, she is stunning. Not really a great acting job, but sufficient for this type of film, and a great special effect all by herself.
potential wasted
posted on 31 Aug 2009this movie had potential in the plot line, but the many twists and curves were covered so topically that the audience comes away dissatisfied. i could have done without some of the tense drama in lieu of real explanation or character development.
characters die for the shock value...in a movie that should be more suspense thriller/horror than slash flick. if someone tackled the screenplay with a stronger veto for the 'junk scenes', this could become far better than it was.
all in all, it was a disappointment.
Not you, Gary.... Not you!
posted on 31 Aug 2009Watching 'The Unborn' is witnessing how unoriginal and formulaic Hollywood can be. There's ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in this movie that's not borrowed from some other movie. Even some shots are exactly the same.
And Gee... jump scares? really? so cheap. so cheap. Simply embarrasing.
Two things kept me intrigued till the end of the movie, though: 1- Why did Platinum Dunes (a good company in the horror field) produce this movie and mainly, 2- Why is Gary Oldman in it?!?! Now that's scary.
Can We Say "Formula"
posted on 31 Aug 2009There is nothing original about this Exorcist wannabe - same old story of young female being harassed by ghostly demon kid (well, kid with black hair and white makeup) who wants to possess cockroaches or humans - whichever is creepiest for the moment.
Same old story of people in abandoned church in a circle reading some religious text in non-English to scare the demon out of the female and into something that isn't quite clearly explained.
Demon as usual is a bit feisty and doesn't stay still so expresses his displeasure by tossing people and things.
Most everybody lives, things are fine except as usual female star is pregnant and guess what's coming out. Well, we don't know but Unborn II will tell us.
Conclusion: Acting was OK, script was tedious; story was redundant; effects were copycat impoverished.
Good, solid horror. But nothing new or original
posted on 31 Aug 2009The Unborn follows Casey, a college girl suddenly haunted by a demon possessing the spirit of her dead brother, who died inutero.
While the movie gets some props for some genuinely creepy moments, problems appear within the first ten seconds. Normally, horror movie victims have a leadup or cause, but in this case, it goes: jogging scene, monster encounter. Some of the scares, namely those involving a rather bored looking pit bull, are bizarrely out of place. One of the scene monsters also was not even a rip off, but a Xerox copy of a monster from another movie.
The movie falls into the glaring pit trap of explaining virtually every detail of the ghost. And as most movie goers know, once you know what is slinking out of the darkness, it becomes as frightening as a math problem. This really wouldn't be an issue if the lead up to the explanation hadn't tried to be subtle, psychological, and cryptic. You genuinely would've thought Casey was going nuts if not for the blow by blow layout.
The acting is above average, and Odette Yustman was especially good lead, though her ability waffled periodically, though this is the nice of a bad director and not necessarily a bad actor.
Overall, this is almost a buy, but I'd still call it a rent, as its not got anything good enough to stand on its own. All the pieces are there, but enough of them are misshapen to spoil the puzzle.
Decent horror flick rooted in Jewish folklore
posted on 31 Aug 2009"The Unborn" is a unique horror movie in that it explores something new - a girl being haunted by a demon from Jewish folklore, who wishes to be 'reborn' through her, after failing to possess her twin brother who died in utero. The young woman in question is Casey [Odette Yustman] who suddenly finds herself being haunted by visions of a young boy who has strange, haunting eyes. With the help of her boyfriend and best friend, Casey finds a link between the visions and an old Holocaust survivor who knew Casey's mother before she [Casey's mom] killed herself. Gary Oldman plays a supporting role as Rabbi Sendak who tries to help Casey, as does Idris Elba as an Episcopalian priest.
Well, though the story is unique and the acting is actually quite decent by today's horror movie standards, I only gave it three stars because of the overly plodding pace in the first half of the movie. The pace only picks up in the second half of the movie and I felt the first half could have done with better editing. Also, the scare tactics employed were run-of-the mill type - scary-looking child, horrific images of deformed, scary faces etc. I also found the ending utterly predictable, not a twist at all - in fact, anyone paying close attention to the plot will see the ending halfway through the movie.
Other than that - this is a decent horror flick and worth a rental.
So disappointing...
posted on 31 Aug 2009This had the potential of being a good horror film, but as is the story with so many movies... the good bits are shown in the trailer! I really was disappointed not to have watched it in the theater b/c my brother was too scared to go! I waited with much anticipation for the dvd, only to settle down and be thoroughly disappointed. It isn't scary at all. Sure, some of the effects are good, but the story is lacking and leaves you wondering why you bagan watching it in the first place. Anyone want to buy my dvd copy? I'll give you a great price!
"JUMP SCARES"...ENGAGE!!! Odette Yustman is Hot!
posted on 31 Aug 2009David S. Goyer had written the first two "Blade" films and co-wrote "Batman Begins" with Christopher Nolan so I gave him an excuse for his lackluster directorial efforts in "Blade Trinity" and "the Invisible". Now that was before I found out that Goyer is also responsible for the script in "Kickboxer 2: the Road Back". Certainly, one wouldn't be hard-pressed to think that Goyer is a either a hit or a miss after his less than stellar resume. He has written and directed his latest horror film "The UNBORN", and once again, I wonder as to what happened to the talent displayed in the first two "Blade" films?
Casey (sexy Odette Yustman) is experiencing several bizarre and unsettling dreams. What's more casey had began to experience hallucinations and she had come to believe that a child named "jumby" is a guise for a demonic force called the `Dyubbuk' and that malevolent spirit is after her. Casey traces the cause of the visions through the clues left behind by her dead mother (Carla Gugino) and had found that she is also the grandchild of a holocaust survivor, Sofi (Jane Alexander). Sofi had experienced unfathomable experiences as a child during the holocaust and she believes that the `Dyubbuk' is after Casey. The demonic force slowly becomes more powerful as people around Casey begin to die. Now it is up to her along with her boyfriend (Cam Gigandet) to seek the help of Rabbi Sendak (Gary Oldman) to exorcise the `dyubbuk' and send it back to where it belongs....
"The Unborn" could have easily been mistaken for a remake of an Asian horror film; a creepy child--check, a pale-faced ghost--check, a family curse--check, a malevolent spirit--check. Yes, "The Unborn" has all the makings of a simple ghost story and David Goyer does try to go for a different route and adds several elements of Jewish mysticism such as the Kabbalah, family curses and even Nazi experimentation. The film does attempt to cover a lot of ground, that results in the film becoming a little too unfocused. Goyer's skills as a director isn't finely honed enough to pull off such an ambition and he is left a little lost within his own writing. I do commend the fact that Hollywood horror has tried to do something different in the film, rather than resorting to another remake; it also attempts to bring certain exorcism procedures into exposition than resorting to the usual Catholic overtones.
The problems with "The Unborn" are the fact that it throws in too many ideas but never really uses one as its central theme. What results is a screenplay full of gaping plot holes and too many variables that falter as a misstep. It also shows Casey trying to battle the forces of evil that feels like a minor genre implementation that ends up with the script becoming convoluted. It's not that the film made no effort to explain everything, it actually does but it ends up spending too much time trying to make sense of each of its plot elements that the film loses any of the `creep-out' touches it may have achieved.
The film is also co-produced by Michael Bay so expect a very visual experience that is a rehearsed practice of cheap and "jump" scares. The special effects do look very good and the film itself looks very pretty. There are a number of freaky images such as an old man crawling around distorting his own body, facial features are changed into something more feral and scary, convulsions and creepy mirrors--the film does have its moments, but the problem is the scare factor feels a little too cheap. The film suffers from visual overload, it is loud (not in a literary sense) with too much style that it forgot to become scary. Characterization is also a little too weak, and the viewer would have no time to get attached to its characters. Some may like the "in-your-face-no-nonsense" type of storytelling, but in a horror film, caring for the characters is essential. Goyer forgot to make the audience settle into his screenplay.
Goyer also leaves some grand behavioral missteps as with the character of Casey's friend Romy (Meagan Good); for someone who talks about believing in the occult, she sure spends an awful lot of time trying to convince Casey otherwise. He also leaves the subplot with Casey's child-stalker hanging out to dry and Casey's dad is curiously nowhere to be found amid the entire crisis (a simple phone call would've sufficed). Instead, the direction obsesses in showing a pale-faced deformed dog, more visual nightmares and an upside down senior citizen than developing the script. The acting is also a mixed bag and given the little elements the cast had to work with, I can`t really judge their acting abilities. Although I really liked the sight of Odette Yustman in her small shirt and panties, plus I did somewhat enjoy the fact that Gary Oldman managed to kick some dyubbuk butt.
"The Unborn" throws in so much substance than it actually really needs. It resulted with the storytelling becoming a little too convoluted and the special effects just taking over that made the film rather superficial. While it does have some freaky images, they were all pretty routine and it offers nothing methodical that may make a scene really stand out--it all seems like a rehearsed exercise. The film is a grand exhibit of too much style and substance that never went anywhere. But I am pretty sure that "The Unborn" may find an audience, but hardcore horror fans are better off staying away. At least, Odette Yustman is very hot.
Rent it. [2 Stars= Mediocre to Fair]
An Interesting Horror Film
posted on 31 Aug 2009While I do not see as much horror films as I used to, I did see this film in the movies last winter. The premise of this film as a Jewish version of The Exorcist with Gary Oldman as the Rabbi performing the exorcism was too good to pass up.
I enjoyed this film greatly. The plot is intersting and there are the usual scares that jump out at you. It does have a good cast including Oldman and Jane Alexander as a holocaust survivor who hold the key yo the plot.
The star of the film however is Odette Yustman, an absolutely beautiful young woman, sort of a less slutty Meagan Fox. I previously saw Miss Yustman in Cloverfield. However there she was surrounded by several other beautiful young women. Here she has the field to herself.
I checked the time difference between the rated and unrated versions of this film on the DVD and Blu Ray. The difference is exactly 1 minute.
Still if you want an interesting and different horror film, this is for you. (And if you just want to see several scenes of a beautiful young woman, Miss Yustman, prancing around in her underwear, this is for you as well.)
Odette Yustman looking good in her undies is worth a few stars
posted on 31 Aug 2009Well, my title tells all, but The Unborn isn't nearly as bad as most of the critic reviews seem to indicate. Maybe because they were so harsh I was actually surprised that it didn't totally suck. The story is decent, the acting isn't the best and only about half of the CGI worked, but it's a fairly entertaining way to spend 81 minutes. I know that this film is written and directed by one of the writers of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, so you expect a lot knowing what great work he has done in the past. It's a good rainy day rental. Oh, I almost forgot about Gary Oldman. He probably did this movie because of his "Batman" relationship with the director. He shouldn't be anywhere near a movie this mediocre, but he does add some class to it. If nothing else, The Unborn provides plenty of eye candy in the form of the yummy Odette Yustman.
The Unborn - 4 **** Rating
posted on 31 Aug 2009My review is on the Unrated version. The Unborn kept me on the edge of my seat thru out and the movie runs at a brisk pace. There was very little gore in this movie but I think you find it wasn't necessary. It maintains a level of creepiness from the very first minute. Odette Yustman plays the young woman who is the target of a demonic spirit and Gary Oldman is the Rabbi who leads the failed Exorcism (does anyone think Gary looks remarkably like a young Peter O'Toole in this film?). I definitely don't think the film deserves all the negative critcism it received. Negative reviews tend to lower one's expectations - for me it was a pleasant surprise. I think you will find the 90 minutes viewing scary time well spent.
Overall GOOD modern horror movie
posted on 31 Aug 2009Finally, a good scary movie. I had been so disappointed with almost every horror movie of the last decade years. Aside from the somewhat campy and enjoyable 'Valentine' (2001), 2004's THE HILLS HAVE EYES, Rob Zombie's 'Corpses' film and 'Halloween', and 2008's ultra creepy 'Cloverfield', almost every horror movie otherwise, of the last 6 or 7 years, sucked. The Unborn has originality. It is cheesy sometimes but the visuals and the scares are really good. Theres good atmosphere and unease. This is definitely one of the much better scare flicks to come around since 2002's "The Ring". I recommend. I have it on blu ray, which was overpriced (nearly 30 dollars!?) but I can't say it wasn't worth it. It's definitely a movie that you have to see on blu ray...DVD won't do it justice. Full of imagery and sound effects, it's most def. one of the best ways to experience blu ray. Universal has always been great with their releases, not to mention all their horror titles are good, so 'The Unborn" is no exception.
New on Blu-ray: THE UNBORN
posted on 31 Aug 2009This had the potential of being a good horror film, I mean after all, it was written and directed by David S. Goyer, the person behind movies such as THE DARK KNIGHT, BATMAN BEGINS and BLADE. I went into the movie expecting a well-developed story with strong characters, something that could spark the life back into the American horror film market, a market that has been dominated too long by movies focused only on what new an ingenious ways someone can be tortured. But did THE UNBORN, a film dealing with the supernatural and possession, live up to the hype of being the product of the man behind the biggest film of 2008? Not at all. The result unfortunately is, lackluster.
There are two things that plague THE UNBORN, and both rest solely on the shoulders of Goyer. First, the acting in THE UNBORN is unbearable. Yes, this is a horror movie, but one has to remember that this is being written and directed by an A-List Hollywood talent. This is a film that had a worldwide theatrical release, it isn't just a B-Horror film, shot on a shoestring and hoping to land a direct to DVD distribution deal, a film where bad acting just adds to the charm. Odette Yustman (CLOVERFIELD) spends the majority of the film with the same expression on her face. There is no depth to her character, and honestly no real attempt to achieving any. It's as if Goyer didn't even try to get a performance out of her. Instead, he just continuously put her in tight tank tops or in her underwear and started filming. The fact that these images were used consistently in the original trailer for the film could explain Goyer's motivation and the audience demographic he was trying to attract. Why a director though would encourage an actor to pull back their performance until it was non-existant is not excusable. I wish Yustman would've been given a chance to at least try and carry the film. Instead, she became a Megan Fox lookalike who was merely used as set dressing for the audience, to look at but not to empathize with.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum though is the actress playing Yustman's best friend Romy. Whereas Yustman's performance was contracted by Goyer to the point of irrelevance, Meagan Good (SAW V) took overacting to the extreme. Her scenes lacked any credibility and there was not an ounce of genuine emotion in any of her performance. Once again, I do not blame the actors, but instead focus the attention on Goyer. Pairing two diametrically opposed performances against one another did not have the effect of balancing them out, but rather created an almost cartoonish depiction of falsity. The actors aren't buying their performances, so why should the audience?
It was a surprise to me though that the key thing wrong with THE UNBORN had to do with its story structure. Goyer completely rushed the ending of Act II as if he was racing to the end of the picture. Having spent the entire film establishing a unique pacing, there was an abrupt shift of gears, as if all of a sudden, Goyer thought he had to shave ten minutes off of the movie. This change of pacing did not have the effect of building suspense, but rather created a feeling of being disjointed, as if there was something that was missing. While this could be a result of an editing decision, the fact that Goyer relied on other contrivances like talking head scenes with nothing but exposition, and coincidences to drive the plot forward rather than allowing the characters to discover elements on their own, did not seem at all like the product one would expect from a writer such as Goyer.
There is some great cinematography in the film and some images that will definitely make you jump, but for the most part, the feeling in the end is that everything about the film was done as quickly as possible to capitalize on the buzz of Goyer's name in association with THE DARK KNIGHT before it died down.
As for the Blu-ray release, it parallels the substance of the film, there is just nothing there. The Blu-ray offers both the theatrical version of the film as well as an "unrated, extended cut," but do not think that you will find any more substance with the added footage. The Blu-ray is BD Live enabled, but the only bonus materials included on the disc are "deleted scenes in Hi-Def." These Hi-Def (1080i) scenes give us such memorable fare as: "Scene 90: Casey runs into Mr. Shields" or "Scenes 127-133: Casey jogs by her mom's grave / signs up for classes." The bonus features are a joke, and like the movie, completely just reflect a studio packaging something quickly for mass consumption without any regard for content.
I must admit, I'm still confused
posted on 31 Aug 2009This was an okay horror flick. I love a good scary movie and I did leap from my seat in a couple of scenes, but I also like a really good scary story, and this one just kept confusing me!
***WARNING, SPOILERS AHEAD, ONLY READ IF YOU'VE SEEN THE MOVIE***
First, our main character is haunted by demonic visions... then she babysits a demonic child! Then we learn she had a twin that died in utero. So...ok... her twin brother is haunting her. NO! We find out it's a demon spirit haunting her and since her brother died in the womb, it's now after her. OK, so what's with the demonic child our heroine was babysitting? We find out that the spirit is trying to possess her because a twin is the easiest way for it to enter our world... but no! It's already possessed the neighbor boy. And continues to possess almost every other character in the movie except for the one that is suppose to be the "easiest". I didn't understand this plot hole or why Nazi experimentation caused demonic possession or why this girl's mother killed herself instead of staying to save her daughter from the evil she knew about. There were too many strings left dangling in this movie for me to really get into it although the visual effects were definitely scary -- it's story telling that really gives me the goosebumps, not crazy cgi effects and latex creatures!
whine whine whine
posted on 31 Aug 2009I don't understand why so many people dis on this movie. "Oh, it's a rip off of this and this, and so and so's acting wasn't good and this guy who did this movie should be ashamed of doing this movie." What the hell do you people want? First of all, the movie took on a myth/legend I've never even heard of before-and that's saying something trust me, that's pretty cool. I saw this movie expecting garbage equivalent to the second ring movie(total crap) and it ended up being pretty good and I left not pissed at spending 8 bucks to get in. Yeah the acting isn't the best. IT'S A HORROR MOVIE. Acting isn't as important as scares and to a lesser extent, gore. That's like saying people go to see Transformers or Ice Age for oscar-worthy performances. If people do, they are kidding themselves. I jumped more than I thought I would and I was slightly impressed at how "R" this PG-13 movie is. Of course, back when I was a kid, PG-13 was very watered down compared to what they can get away with now.
ANYWAY, between the critics and the guy who loves this movie a little too much, I say it's a good movie. If it's the kind you should buy or not, I say rent it first cuz if you really like it you'll buy it anyway, right?
Funny, that demon didn't look Jewish...
posted on 31 Aug 2009Yes, another exorcism film is here, but with a Hebrew twist! I guess the Catholic priests were too busy molesting little boys to take care of the demon in this particular film. So instead of the tired and worn cliche's of Christian mysticism we get the same thing with some specific Hebrew mumbo-jumbo mysticism. It's actually one of the few things that keeps this stale tale afloat, for the most part.
Personally, I was excited to hear David S. Goyer(screen and story writer behind the Blade and the new Batman films) was writing and directing a horror story involving demons. He's an old friend of the genre having worked on Demonic Toys, the first Crow sequel, Dark City and the forementioned Blade films. Unfortunately, The Unborn is a by-the-numbers horror yarn with few surprises, flat characters and a weak leading lady in Odette Yustman. When Goyer films her from behind in nothing but a tank top and white panties it's the only time that she creates any semblance of a compelling screen presence. I'm unfamiliar with her previous work and I'm not sure I want to be.
Other noteworthy players in this film are Meghan Good and Gary Oldman. Good is fine and likeable but that's about it. Oldman is phoning it in and collecting a check or doing his Batman collaborator a solid. It was interesting to see a man of faith in such a mellow mood and then fairly assertive when the big bad demone shows its face, or many faces. It's a fun contrast and an entire film about this character would've probably made a better film. But, alas, this film centers around early twenty somethings still in college. God forbid a horror tale be told about adults or people with a history or edge beyond a Calvin Klein commercial. Ho-Hum...
The scares in the film are well-traveled and predicatable. It's your basic things popping up behind you or around the coner with the lights conveniently not working. The film does have some creepy imagery involving strangely contorted bodies of people and dogs. I found the opening scene, a dream sequence, showcasing a terrier wearing a white blank-faced mask particularly effective. The rest of the time the viewr just feels like the scares are just going through the motions for an hour and fifteen minutes all leading to the ten minute long exorcism action sequence. On a technical level the film is pristine and glossy, too glossy in fact. The Exorcist(though I find it to be very overrated)had the right idea by shooting in a more gritty style with a docu-drama feel.
Goyer is a master writer when it comes to structure and moving things along with action and placing the right big and small beats in the appropriate and pefect places in a story. This film just seems too rushed We don't know a thing about the characters when the film opens and it drops the main plot on us like a bomb. How is one supposed to be scared when we don't care aobut the characters who are being scared? I can't. Even worse, there is so much, SO MUCH, exposition in this film in regard to what the demon is and what stops it or wards it off, that it becomes intolerable, and even worse then that, BORING. The characters in this film spend more time talking about the plot then actually acting human, or, ya' know, being real characters!
More on the script, it is loaded with conveniences. All films are loaded with conveniences and contrivances for the sake of moving the plot along, but if you're inovled or interested enough then you overlook them, at least until you rewatch the film a couple of times. Since this film isn't as interesting as it should or could've been these conveniences seem to pile up far too frequently and more obviously.How lucky that the main character's mother kept clippings that would lead her to a wise old lady with all the plot's answers. Convenient that nobody accidentally threw that browned paper clipping away. Convenient that Gary Oldman's rabbi decies to do a stranger, a complete stranger, a really big favor by translating a Hebrew text in the form of a long ancient book, a book conveniently provided by forementioned wise old lady. Convenient that ten people, including a priest, were available and willing to perform an exorcism. Convenient that Meghan Good runs over a child, who survives, and threatens her, and still manages to deny her best friend is dealing with something supernatural, or even assessing the strange event in any honest way. Convenient that the main character's father is away on business(the wasted James Remar in the forgettable role)when our demon decides to cut loose. Very convenient that the demon doesn't gain any real force or power, any that it decides to let loose, until the final exorcism. What's with these ghosts and demonic entities, why do they like to do everything the hard and long way? Why am I thinking about these things when all I want is to be creeped out and entertained? It took me at least a couple of viewings before I realized how ludicris the final few minutes of Jaws were.
The Unborn is short and quick and has some striking imagery that I will never forget. I found the Hebrew version of the whole possession rap fairly intriguing. Gary Oldman is watchable in anything. The final moments of the climax when the deomon wreaks all kinds of hell are quite well done and exciting and there are some unexpected casualties. For these reasons alone I was partially entertained and can recommend this film as a decent rental.
The DVD is fairly bare-bones. You get the PG-13 theatrical version and the unrated version of the movie. I only watched the unrated version. There are some snippets of gore and firece violence that I'm sure make up the one minute that makes this DVD version so unrated. You also get some deleted scenes that are not noteworthy and an alternate version of the already forced twist ending.
Final thoughts: Forgettable but fun on some levels. The visual effects and make up effects team for KNB effects do really good and original work. The script is too mundane. I really, really hope that Odette Yustman is an excellent waitress,
you can do worse
posted on 31 Aug 2009for me, i saw this as a step up over the standard horror film. yes, its got some crappy acting and an ending thats super rushed, but it does have some original aspects. i liked that it delve into Jewish mysticism and folklore and the cinematography was beautiful. if only they could have dragged the ending out a bit longer, it would have been real good. instead, its just pretty average, but you could do a lot worse.
Michael Bay J-Horror?
posted on 31 Aug 2009Yes, this movie is produced by Michael Bay, and it's obvious. Beautiful, dark haired heroine. Check. In panties more often than not. Check. Loud, obnoxious light and sound effects. Check. Michael Bay.
In spite of his heavy-handed touch, The Unborn works surprisingly well. It's a creepy tale, full of nerve-wracking moments, which more often than not play like a true homage to the best J-Horror movies, and not simply as a failed Western remake.
There are some genuinely creepy moments, and they usually defy typical, logical explanation. That's the essence of J-Horror to me. Things happen, and they can't always be explained.
The heroine plays like a more thoughtful, better realized version of the typical Michael Bay / Meghan Fox character, and Gary Oldman does his usual fine job playing a role one couldn't possibly believe he'd be playing. A Rabbi?
Gary Oldman as a Rabbi?
I love Gary Oldman.
The movie might not win any awards, but it's got some genuine chills and scares, and it's well worth seeing.