Still/Born

Still/Born is a 2017 chilling horror film that dives deep into the realm of psychological disturbance and creeping dread. The highly engaging narrative takes the audience on a journey filled with fear, suspense, and terror that echoes long after the movie is over. The story masterfully swirls around themes of motherhood, grief, and otherworldly threats. It stands as a haunting exploration of postnatal depression imbued with the supernatural. Directed by Brandon Christensen and currently being celebrated in the horror genre, the movie features Christie Burke, Jesse Moss, and Rebecca Olson as major cast members.

The story centers on Christie Burke’s character, Mary, and her husband Jack, portrayed by Jesse Moss. Burke and Moss both bring their A-game to their roles, delivering deeply emotional and bone-chilling performances that resonate with the audience. The couple is ecstatic after finding out that they are expecting twins. However, their joy quickly turns into unimaginable sorrow when one of their newborns passes away soon after birth.

Mary is left alone to care for their surviving baby while Jack returns to work. She is trying to navigate her way through the next stages of motherhood, which quickly turns into a living nightmare. She becomes increasingly tormented by eerie noises and visions, convincing her that a supernatural entity seeks her surviving child. The movie skillfully delves into Mary’s vivid descents into fear and anxiety, creating an atmosphere where reality is challenged, and the supernatural possibly lurks around each corner.

One of the standout aspects of Still/Born is how effectively it balances the horrors of the mind's depths with a potentially tangible, otherworldly threat. Director Brandon Christensen meticulously portrays Mary’s postpartum depression, painting a crude picture of how it can shake a mother to her core, even blurring the boundaries between reality and imagination.

In contrast, Rebecca Olson, Mary's affluent, poised next-door neighbor provides a beautifully rendered counterpoint to Mary's unraveling reality. The nuanced relationship between the two women forms another layer to the narrative effort.

Christie Burke is an absolute revelation in Still/Born, bearing the emotional weight of the film with her convincing and heartbreaking performance. As the suspicious, frightened, and determined Mary, she embodies a full spectrum of emotion that maintains complete credibility despite the surreal circumstances. Likewise, Jesse Moss portrays the sane foil to her gradually unraveling wife, grounding the increasingly chaotic world in a recognisable reality marked by the mundanity of work and life routines.

Still/Born grips the viewers with its unique blend of psychological horror and haunting supernatural undertones from the very beginning. The film's clever use of lighting and shadow, alongside its unsettling soundtrack, only add to the perpetually intensifying fear. Moreover, the striking visuals, from mundane suburban landscapes to the eerie confinement of Mary's house, seamlessly add to the escalating tension.

While the movie can be classified as a terror-filled horror, the human elements also form a significant part of its plot. In this way, the film transcends traditional genre boundaries and becomes a place where emotional pain and loss meet the unknown from beyond our realm. The fear-of-motherhood theme and its subsequent impact on mental health is an ever-present undertone, making Still/Born more than just a scare fest. The movie hauntingly depicts how maternal instincts can curdle into gut-wrenching fear, making the audience question if the supernatural element is real or just a manifestation of Mary’s deteriorating mental health.

Overall, Still/Born is a nerve-racking exploration of psychological horror and occupies a unique place in the genre. The intense character portrayals by Burke, Moss, and Olson, combined with the director’s ability to keep the suspense steadily building throughout the film, presents a compelling story that takes horror into the uncharted territories of postpartum distress and motherhood. As much as it is terrifying, it is a poignant scrutiny of acute grief and an in-depth study of a mother’s worst fears. For admirers of horror blended with psychological depth and supernatural suspense, Still/Born is an unmissable feast.