Grace – Review

At this year’s Toronto After Dark Film Festival, I was able to catch the closing gala film, Grace that has had a massive impact on its viewers since its buzz-worthy premiere at Sundance earlier this year. This latest entry into the “demonic baby horror” sub-genre has provoked morbid curiosity in this reviewer after hearing about the multiple faintings that had occurred at previous screenings.  Sitting in my seat, I prepared myself for a disconcerting experience and although I left the theatre afterwards relatively unscathed, the feeling of uneasiness continued to wash over me, which is exactly what writer/director Paul Solet  had intended to do with his audience.

The film starts off with a seemingly unhappy couple trying to conceive a baby.  After months have passed the now pregnant wife Madeline, (Jordan Ladd) has decided to take the naturopathic route (much to her overbearing mother in law’s dismay) and conceive her baby via natural child birth from her very protective mid-wife. (Samantha Ferris)

On the way home one night, Madeline and her husband (Stephen Parks) get in a horrific car accident causing death for both her husband and her unborn child. Unwillingly to believe her baby is dead, Madeline continues to carry to term and delivers a stillbirth…or at least that’s how it first appears. Minutes later, the baby (named Grace) is moving, crying and breathing and this is enough of a reason for Madeline to give Grace whatever her heart desires….even if it’s human blood.

Grace is undoubtedly going to be compared to many other Rosemary’s Baby knock-offs, however what makes Grace unlike the other cheap and exploitative “demon seed” films is that the film’s focus is not on discovering what kind of monster Grace is, but rather it deals with the monster living inside Madeline.  Madeline starts the film off as a hardcore vegetarian that could not hurt a fly, but as the film progresses, she rapidly transforms into a person who does the unthinkable, all because of the love she has for her child. That is what is so terrifying about Grace’s premise—any new mother could be capable of doing the same thing.

In his feature debut, writer/director Paul Solet seems to realise although horror fans have become far more desensitised to gore these days, a film’s controversial subject matter can still affect its seemingly numb audience. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of blood shed in this film. Although, the gruesome and bloody scenes are not as grotesque as any scenes involving breast milk in it. Everytime Grace is feeding, you almost expect her to talk in a perverse Donald Duck voice, because what she does is as disturbing as what “The New York Ripper” did to Daniela Doria in a Fulci classic. (Who knew that breasts could be scary?)

Jordan Ladd also nails it out of the park and proves that she is capable of doing more than just dying horrifically or doing topless gymnastics onscreen. As a troubled and sick anti-heroine, Ladd proves with her challenging character she can handle leading lady roles from here on in.  Samantha Ferris and Gabrielle Rose also do fine jobs in their roles and are able to invoke laughter and groans of disgust from the audience periodically through out the film. (Especially Rose.)

On the downside, Grace throws in a random subplot that although sheds more light on the film’s opening scene, it is hardly talked about and seems only relevant in the film’s slightly rushed denouement.  Also, if you have seen the trailer for the film, you have practically seen the entire film, which was something I was disappointed to discover half way into the screening.

Overall, despite a shaky subplot and a spoiler-heavy trailer, I truly recommend horror fans to suckle on this demon seed’s teet, (no pun intended) as it is an ultra violent, surprisingly feminist and malevolent horror film that is sure to please.

Rating: