GRACE (2009) review

Starring: Jordan Ladd, Gabrielle Rose and Samantha Ferris
Director: Paul Solet
Run time: 85 minutes

The subject of babies and children should usually be a chirpy one, but when you mix babies with horror, we all know the chilling and devastating effects. Think Rosemary’s Baby and Damian from The Omen – both films helped to install a slight weariness about children in me. I do try to remember most children and babies are not evil, nor the devil, but sometimes it can be hard.

The artwork for Grace was what intrigued me to watch this film, purely for the fact that blood-filled, fly-infested baby bottles somehow attract my interest. We watch as Madeline and her husband successfully become pregnant after a series of unfortunate miscarriages – only to be involved in a serious car accident. Madeline learns her child has unfortunately passed, but carries it until the end of the term when a miracle happens and the baby survives. The joyous occasion quickly turns sour when Madeline discovers her sweet innocent Grace doesn’t crave that breast milk goodness; instead she prefers something red and sticky.

This film is quite a slow burner, but it’s not always the action packed films that get my ‘like’ buds tingling, and for me this film had some sickly sweet moments. What I found interesting was that the film concentrates mainly on three strong willed women, who all have different intentions for Grace. In particular, we see Madeline’s mother-in-law, Vivian, become obsessed with the possibility of taking Grace as her own and the excitement of breastfeeding again. It gets a bit weird and milky.

As for Madeline – she shows real willing and the lengths a mother will go to, not only to protect her child but also to provide for her at any means necessary. Personally if my newborn child craved blood, I would most likely feel extremely queasy and possibly drive a stake through their heart (maybe too harsh). The building need to ensure the well being of her baby does make you wonder what you would do in an obscure situation as such – the lengths eventually reached are further than most would go.

As much as this film appealed to me, there were too many questions left unanswered. Even though I whole-heartedly believe that some films are better left unexplained, I think this was not one of them. The storyline has an air of mystery, but it delves too deep into something without even a small hint at the reason behind all the bizarreness. I also get the feeling that this film is more horrific to a woman viewer as the concept of pregnancy, birth and being a new mother is highly daunting anyway, without the thought of having your tits sucked dry by essentially your new vampire child. As a man, you’re not quite going to understand all that woman malarkey, so it just wouldn’t be as frightening.

For me, I thought this film lacked in a few places but I found its dark tone and various fucked-up characters a reason to keep watching. It has also added to my impending fear that having a baby will be gross and horrifying yet somehow delightful. Verdict: 3 out of 5

33 thoughts

theipc says:

30/03/2015 at 19:54

3 out of five sounds about right for this thing… kinda boring…. but not this blog….. this blog is the best! If you ever drop your pen again let me know.

Reply
1. The Film Fetishist says:
  
  31/03/2015 at 08:59
  
  Yeah, I liked the film but kind of slow and boring! Whoops, just dropped my pen right now…
  
  Reply
  1. theipc says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 14:16
    
    Happy Tuesday indeed!!!
    
    #cranesneckaroundcomputermonitor
    #takingvideo
  2. The Film Fetishist says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 14:30
    
    #titilatingtuesday
    #droppedmypenforthecamera
  3. theipc says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 14:32
    
    #yesyesyesyes
    #watchingitoverandover
  4. The Film Fetishist says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 16:52
    
    #foryoureyesonly
  5. theipc says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 17:15
    
    #onconstantrepeat
  6. The Film Fetishist says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 21:22
    
    #loopthatshit
  7. theipc says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 21:23
    
    #considerthatshitlooped
    #enternalplaying
  8. The Film Fetishist says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 21:34
    
    Hehehe you do make me laugh! I’m enjoying the hash tag game!
  9. theipc says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 21:35
    
    I fucking LOVE IT!!
  10. The Film Fetishist says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 21:37
    
    Me too! Chat soon 🙂
  11. theipc says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 22:08
    
    #sweetasskidnapperisreturned
    #dirtytits
    #tatsandass
  12. The Film Fetishist says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 22:10
    
    #thereturnoftheasskidnapper
    #cleaningtits
    #inkandbooty
  13. theipc says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 22:17
    
    #noskirtcommando
    #haybundles
    #covertnecksniffing
  14. The Film Fetishist says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 22:39
    
    #noskirtnopants
    #farmingabout
    #hairsmelling
  15. theipc says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 22:48
    
    #imin
    #imsototallyin
    #fuckyesbaby
  16. The Film Fetishist says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 22:53
    
    #getin
    #fuckfuckyescandyass
  17. theipc says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 22:59
    
    #imtotallyfuckingin
    #letching
    #drunkenpalmtouches
  18. theipc says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 14:37
    
    Oh and:
    
    #kidnap
  19. The Film Fetishist says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 16:57
    
    You have to wear a mask and have a van!
  20. theipc says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 17:16
    
    #nowbuyingamaskandvan
  21. The Film Fetishist says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 21:23
    
    #scarymasksandscaryvans #goodinvestment
  22. theipc says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 21:27
    
    #bestinvestmentever
    #aproncommando
    
    P.S. Land of the Dead is terrible…
  23. The Film Fetishist says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 21:36
    
    #doingbusiness
    #noapron
    P.S. I know 😦 I bought it on DVD before watching it and was like, fack. I was cracking up at the main zombie who is like clever hahaha!
  24. theipc says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 22:11
    
    I’m not done with it yet but it’s really stupid… A zombie playing a tuba??? Really????
    
    #fuckthisshit
    #stupidass
    #dirtytits
  25. The Film Fetishist says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 22:19
    
    Hahaha, don’t you know zombies are really clever?
    #fuckyousmartzombie
    #deadass
    #zombietits
  26. theipc says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 22:25
    
    I guess I was kept out of the loop….
    
    #zombietuba
    #zombiecheerleader
    #allcheerleadersdie
    #dirtyzombietits
  27. The Film Fetishist says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 22:41
    
    We’ll be fucked in the apocalypse!
    #zombieclarinet
    #deadcheerleaders
    #naughtyzombies
  28. theipc says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 22:52
    
    At least we have the Dead Reckoning….
    
    #whatever
    #terriblemovie
    #cheerleaderoutfits
    #commando
    #fucktheskirt
  29. The Film Fetishist says:
    
    31/03/2015 at 22:55
    
    That is true….
    #shitmovie
    #fuckzombies
    #commando
    #fuckthetrousers
emmakwall says:

31/03/2015 at 15:41

Great review! Totally agree! I watched this and found it kind of boring, but the fucked up characters (your words!) and icky blood scenes did keep me going.

P.S I have a fear of childbirth too….not sure I’ll ever do it to be honest!

Reply
1. The Film Fetishist says:
  
  31/03/2015 at 17:08
  
  Yeah, it’s very very slow, but I enjoyed it! Hehe, they are fucked up!
  I have a fear of childbirth too, and being pregnant, like IT’S MOVING INSIDE ME! If one appears in there, I’m telling them to cut it out!
  
  Reply