The Unborn (1991)

Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

Excellent, smart action film.

I saw this movie before reading any reviews, and I thought it was very funny. I was very surprised to see the overwhelmingly negative reviews this film received from critics.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

I am an average Horror/Sci-Fi/Thriller/Creature Feature movie buff. I am 62 and have seen them all including the Asian Creature Features to the Nordic Horrors. I will give anyone their right to an opinion....but.....the rating system on many of the movies on this sight have been skewed by someone having a bad day.Very few Horror et.al.movies make it to the Oscars. So what...those of us who are fanatics of these films have an odd sense of appreciation for the unbelievable.The Unborn is a good movie....I like Brooke Adams....I like mad scientists...I like freaky things that squish in the night...I like house wives that are slightly nuts....I like husbands who don't have a clue....I like Lisa Kudrow (did you see her????) Those of you who want to sit back and watch a really good Sci-Fi/Horror will have fun with this one. So skip the ratings and watch the movie. (And don't forget the popcorn.)

Borrowing liberally from Rosemary's Baby (and mimicking some of the strategies of Child's Play), The Unborn still retains its own unique sense of horror, steeped in paranoia and genetic conspiracies. While many of its scare tactics end up producing the opposite effect after an intriguing build, the film manages a consistent atmosphere of dread throughout, and most of its jarring visuals succeed in their horror film intentions. Plus, don't miss early roles from Lisa Kudrow as a receptionist and Kathy Griffin as a Lamaze instructor.After years of unsuccessful attempts at getting pregnant, Virginia Marshall (Brooke Adams) and her husband Brad (Jeff Hayenga) turn to the highly reputable Dr. Meyerling (James Karen). With the revolutionary new techniques developed by the skillful doctor, Virginia finally becomes pregnant, but she quickly finds her dream becoming a nightmare as she succumbs to delusions, paranoia, and the realization that there is something unnatural about her baby...Apparently, just like in Rosemary's Baby, a mother's love knows no boundaries - even when the child is a bloodthirsty homicidal mutant superbaby. The comparisons don't stop with Virginia's change of heart toward her killer kid, however, as loving husband Brad is involved with the creepy Human Genome Project advocate Dr. Meyerling - exactly like John Cassavetes' Guy, who participated in a devilish cult. Aside from very obvious, similar themes, even the subplots - such as a fellow patient who catches on to the doctor's genetic experimentations and winds up comatose before she can talk it over with Virginia - mirrors Polanski's superior film.The eeriness of an alien creature growing inside of the unsuspecting heroin is occasionally genuine, and further amplified by her frequent isolation, nightmares and familial estrangement. Her history of depression, breakdowns, a revolting rash, and disquieting music (periodically replaced with jazzier, badly out-of-place rock beats) also aid in the film's horror, but unfortunately too much of it is unintentionally hilarious. A particularly grizzly moment in which one of Meyerling's victims stabs her own pregnant belly with a butcher knife, along with several other choice bits of foreshadowing, is all out the window once the glistening plastic baby is finally revealed. The terror of the setup and the creepiness of the characters succumb to chuckles. It's hard not to laugh at such a pathetic prop.Famous schlock movie producer Roger Corman said that he intended for The Unborn to be "Rosemary's Baby meets Cronenberg's The Fly." He was also playing off of the success of Child's Play and It's Alive - sadly all of the films used for inspiration were infinitely more affecting, although The Unborn did spawn a very obscure sequel.The Massie Twins

"The Unborn" is a huge misstep of a horror film.**SPOILERS**Having trouble with conceiving children, Virginia Marshall, (Brooke Adams) and her husband Brad, (Jeff Heyenga) decide to visit Dr. Richard Meyerling, (James Karen) a fertility specialist with a high success rate. After undergoing a procedure, she finds out that she is pregnant with their child, and the two begin preparing their out in anticipation of the arrival of the baby. When she starts to experience a series of mood swings and odd behavior, which Dr. Meyerling attributes to a normal pregnancy but she still believes is connected to the chemicals that had been injected into her during her treatment with the doctor. Finally discovering that the baby's change was indeed through the doctor, she sets off to get rid of the baby and get her life back.The Good News: There really isn't a whole lot here to like. One of the few pleasures is it's great premise and set-up. Having something such as a fertility clinic and the shady goings-on within is a wonderful idea. Then by having their creations affecting one of their patients in the worst way possible is simply marvelous and makes for great potential. The last ten minutes are it's best, with the realization about what has happened and the determination to avenge it coming up with some really good minor action sequences in a secret laboratory filled with a quite creepy surprise and a really decent car-crash at the end. Other than that, there really isn't a whole lot here that was enjoyable.The Bad News: It gets points for it's clever set-up, but the fact still remains that this was a painful film to sit through. Most of this is due to the fact that there isn't much in the way of anything at all happening. Most of the time in the beginning is spent on the ways they're preparing for the baby, which is a realistic touch but just slows the film down to a crawl. To feature so many different scenes is quite excruciating and just needless. There's no need to have so many, it's obvious what is going on, just get moving. More time should've been spent with the last part of the movie, which is quite good and it's only redeeming feature, and a feature-length adaptation of that kind of scares would've certainly been far more fun to sit through. As realistic as they are, it's just not that exciting at all and really hurts it. Another big factor is that there's a plot twist revealed just before which is so obviously coming that it doesn't really register as it should and comes off as clichéd. It's even ripped off from another movie, in the same type of scene, camera-angle for camera-angle. To have ripped off the idea wouldn't have been so bad, but to be as blatant as it is with it's stealing is really not that good and does it no favors. This was just a really disappointing and dull film.The Final Verdict: While it does have a pretty interesting set-up and premise, unfortunately this thing falters as there's a real lack of any real horror and it's just a long, drawn-out affair. If it appeals to you, give it a shot, but don't be surprised if there isn't much in it.Rated R: Violence, Graphic Language, Brief Nudity and a long, mild clothed sex scene

I was surprised to see the overall positive reviews this film received. Especially given that I was primed to have my horrified impressions confirmed. I chose 'The Unborn' as my Halloween night scary movie to watch with a friend. It was scary alright, but not in a good way.Brooke Adams (my favorite under-appreciated actress who was so wonderful in 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers') stars as an infertile writer eager to conceive of a child with her husband. This in spite of the fact that he sports an atrocious 'Halloween Hobo' beard.At a spartan 'Coma' like clinic, Adams and hubby are directed by a young and brunette Lisa Kudrow to a meeting with fatherly physician James Karen where they are told that they can have a child through a special in-vitro method he has devised.Faster than you can say 'Rosemary's Baby,' Adams is suffering all manner of unfortunate pregnancy symptoms, all leading her to conclude that she is the victim of some horrible plot. Indeed she is.'The Unborn' is a Roger Corman production and screams inexpensive and ineptitude from every frame. First of all, the film has the look of one of those 'Mystery Science Theater' bombs. Made in the 90's, it looks like the 70's. The 'music' score is that kind of repetitive electronica noise found in every low-grade sci-fi film from the 80's.The plot is provocative but submarined by predictability, moronic dialog and the necessity for characters to veer from intelligent to idiotic at whim.It's pretty much 'Alien' meets 'Rosemary's Baby' meets 'The Devil Within' meets 'The Brood' meets 'The Bad Seed.' Corman was never one for originality.* SPOILER*My friend and I found the film worthwhile chiefly for providing the public with an opportunity to see annoying comic Kathy Griffin get beaten to death with a hammer. Just awful otherwise…but that Brooke Adams is really great.