Birth/Rebirth (2023)

August 23, 2023 9:21 PM

[TRAILER] Rose (Marin Ireland) is a pathologist who prefers working with corpses over social interaction. She also has an obsession -- the reanimation of the dead. Celie (Judy Reyes) is a maternity nurse who has built her life around her bouncy, chatterbox six-year-old daughter, Lila (A.J. Lister). When one tragic night, Lila suddenly falls ill and dies, the two women's worlds crash into each other. They embark on a dark path of no return where they will be forced to confront how far they are willing to go to protect what they hold most dear.

Directed by Laura Moss. Written by Laura Moss, Brendan J. O'Brien.

95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Now playing in theaters. JustWatch<>

posted by DirtyOldTown (4 comments total)

There is a day coming soon when yet another another artfully made indie horror film about grief comes out and it poops the bed, ending that trope for years.

This is not that movie. Like many of the indie films in this micro genre, it is very good.

Less a spooky horror thing than a grimly unflinching look at two women repeatedly morally compromising themselves, until it becomes horror.

Minor minor spoiler (about minors!): this is not an evil kid movie. This is a following bad medical ethics down a dark path for personal reasons story.

Best exchange, from just after the scene in the trailer where Celie bursts into Rose's place and sees her daughter is there.

Rose: Because of a rare generic marker, Lila is a perfect candidate for a radical experimental protocol I have been developing.
Celie: Against meningitis?
Rose: Against death.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:27 PM on August 23, 2023 [2 favorites]

How dare you make me want to watch a movie that isn't streaming anywhere I can find. Grar.
posted by miss-lapin at 1:15 AM on August 24, 2023

this is a strange one. there were plenty of strong points (and performances) but I do not think it stuck the landing.
posted by supermedusa at 9:27 AM on October 16, 2023

Finally streaming on Shudder. I really enjoyed watching both of these characters transform in unexpected ways. I'll be thinking about it for a while.

Judy Reyes has been doing a lot of horror lately with Smile and The Horror of Delores Roach. It's wonderful.
posted by miss-lapin at 4:50 PM on November 11, 2023