Carrying the tone and ghostly approach of many Asian remakes, The Unborn is a PG-13 movie catering to that very audience. Rarely causing a stir amongst those watching on, the film attempts to credit itself by focussing on the story, a scheme that would have worked perfectly, provided that a good story was to be showcased. Instead, the film becomes a resented piece of motion picture history, one that will prompt many to wonder what exactly has happened to the horror genre that we all used to know and love.
At the center of attention is Odette Yustman, an up and coming actress who first made headlines with her leading role in last year's Cloverfield. Here, Yustman plays Casey Beldon, a gorgeous girl who is attempting to understand her mother's reason for leaving her as a child. But as the clues begin to take shape and answers begin to fit the puzzle, Casey quickly realizes that the reasons date back far beyond her mother, to Nazi Germany. In an attempt to rid the curse from her life and remove the haunting ghost from her dreams, Casey turns to Sendak, a spiritual advisor played by Gary Oldman. Together, the two will work to shut the doorway from life beyond our world, one that has been kept open by someone who was never born.
Though the film attempted to be scary, a notion that was quite obvious before walking into the dimly lit theater, I can honestly say that in the end, The Unborn conjured up more laughs that actual frights. Not once did I jump in response to what was being shown on screen, but a handful of scenes caused me to smile, or even laugh silently to myself. I don't know what it was, the ridiculous kid-ghost, the constant emphasis on Yustman's curves or even the ridiculous progression of the story, but there was just something about it that caught me, as well as a number of other audience members, as being funny.
Thankfully, the story's ending (though a bit unexpected and a little too easy) was a nice ending to an otherwise unfortunate film. The pace quickens as the final moments become limited, and most importantly, they leave it open for a sequel!!!!
So what are you waiting for, get out there and spend that hard earned money, because we all know that any film with a sequel is worth it...right? Yea, that is what I thought. Put your money back in your pocket and save it for a forthcoming must-see, for this one is better left untouched.
