Hindsight (2008/I)

Director:

Paul Holahan

Writer:

Brooke Purdy (screenplay)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

Unexpectedly pregnant with no means to raise a child, Dina and Ronnie decide to sell their unborn baby over the Internet. Their plan begins to unravel when the couple they've chosen, Paul and Maria, turn out to have an agenda of their own. |

Plot Keywords:

One Word Title

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Leonor Varela	...	Maria
Jeffrey Donovan	...	Paul
Waylon Payne	...	Ron
Miranda Bailey	...	Dina
Richard Riehle	...	Peter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Deborah Offner	...	Manager
Arnell Powell	...	Jerry

Also Known As:

Expecting (USA) (working title)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Castaic, California, USA

Company:

Ambush Entertainment

Thrills and a hidden social commentary...

Dina and Ronnie are a couple that live a carefree life taking what they want from others. They don't pay their rent, they steal cars, and don't seem to care about the consequences. All of their fun comes to a screeching halt when Dina discovers that she is pregnant. They have no way to provide for a child, so they decide to sell their baby to a desperate couple they find online. Paul and Maria live the perfect suburban lifestyle with a brand new model home and expensive cars, but what they really want has always been denied to them. They cannot have children. The action begins when the couples meet for the first time. Immediately it becomes clear that nothing is what it appears to be. Tension builds as ulterior motives are uncovered on both sides of the deal, and what was supposed to be an easy con for Ronnie and Dina spins violently out of control.

The film opens with Dina hitching a ride with Peter, and she recounts her tale through a series of flashbacks. It's a interesting choice for a thriller. If not handled carefully this kind of narrative structure can ruin the momentum of a film, especially one that relies on thrills. However, this film has something more to offer. The best kind of horror film is the one that focuses on social issues or stigmas and turns them around to show us what we are really afraid of. Hindsight is about choice and the consequences of materialism. How much is one baby worth? Or that boat in Florida? How far will you go to get what you want? And why do you want it in the first place? That last question is the most important. It all comes back to morality, and, of course, a nice little twist ending to tie things off.

Technically the film is sound. It has some great thrills, built up by creative use of sound and lighting design. The actors deliver well enough and the plot has enough turns to keep people guessing. There's enough gore to keep the spatter crowd entertained, and some depth for those of us who like to look in to film a little more deeply. All in all, definitely worth your time.