Grace (2009/III)

Director:

Paul Solet

Writer:

Paul Solet (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 November 2009 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Love... Undying.

Plot:

After losing her unborn child, Madeline Matheson insists on carrying the baby to term. Following the delivery, the child miraculously returns to life with an appetite for human blood. Madeline is faced with a mother's ultimate decision.

Plot Keywords:

Baby | Unborn | Corpse | Blood | Assistant

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jordan Ladd	...	Madeline Matheson
Stephen Park	...	Michael Matheson
Gabrielle Rose	...	Vivian Matheson
Serge Houde	...	Henry Matheson
Samantha Ferris	...	Patricia Lang
Kate Herriot	...	Shelly
Troy Skog	...	ER Doctor
Malcolm Stewart	...	Dr. Richard Sohn
Jeff Stone	...	ER Nurse
Jamie Stephenson	...	Skinny Clerk
Tenai Cam Measmer	...	Grace as an Infant
Annabel Kathlynn Bast	...	Grace as an Infant
Chris Cunningham	...	Lab Technician
Karen Von Staden	...	Dr. Sohn's Secretary (as Karen von Staden)
Mark Claxton	...	Veterinarian

MPAA:

Rated R for bloody images, violence and some sexual content.

Runtime:

USA:85 min (Sundance Film Festival)

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Filming Locations:

Saskatchewan, Canada

Company:

ArieScope Pictures

Trivia:

Turned into a feature after Paul Solet's 2006 short film of the same name (starring Brian Austin Green and Liza Weil) generated positive buzz and awards.

Goofs:

Continuity: In one of the final scenes, Vivan hits Madeline in the forehead with a hammer. Madeline is seen on the floor with a cut over her right eye, with a fair amount of blood. Vivan then leans towards her to see if she is alright, but there is no more blood on her forehead. When Madeline bites Vivian, the blood returns.

Quotes:

Madeline Matheson: She's teething.

Movie Connections:

Version of Grace (2006/II)

Great Concept, Boring Film

A young woman aptly named Madeline Matheson (Jordan Ladd) gets pregnant, the child dies inside her, but she decides to deliver it anyway... and the child (Grace) is alive! But, that's the good news... the bad news is that she's a very "special" child and has special needs that will make her mother go to great lengths. How deep is a mother's love?

I think another reviewer summed this up perfectly: "sloooow paced", "damn boring", "nothing but a short-story stretched to feature length" and "a real big disappointment". I'd love to see quotes like these on the box cover. But, of course, that doesn't happen.

Sure, the concept is cool... zombie baby. Baby drinks blood. Nice. But yeah, the first twenty minutes are boring and each scene just drags. I haven't seen the short film version, but I have to assume it's better. The editor could have cut this down to an hour tops. That would have been appreciated.

Much is made of Madeline's vegan and bisexual lifestyle, if for no other reason than to contrast with the meat-loving child. This is overdone... the vegan talk is drilled home, again and again. I have been known to overlook minor plot points, especially when drinking, but this film won't let you risk that because you'll be reminded repeatedly.

Director Paul Solet, in an interview with HorrorHound's Aaron Crowell, says the film is "definitely a study of the idea of violating the will of the universe". With all due respect to Solet, that's giving the concept too much credit. I fail to see the "will of the universe" presented at all, and this is hardly a "study".

If credit has to be given to anyone for an outstanding job, it's "fly wrangler" Flo, who is not given any recognition in the film's credits. The use of flies was perhaps the best effect, so this omission is saddening.

I appreciate that Adam Green (director of "Hatchet") decided to produce this, as he's the perfect person to help new horror talent through the door to Anchor Bay. But I wish he had more hands-on involvement, because his style is clearly absent. Solet, a childhood friend of Eli Roth, needed more Ladd, Green and Roth inspiration... sometimes a short story is just a short story.

I would put this title firmly in the rental category. You do not need to own this, and it will not inspire you to take repeated viewings, unless you like devouring special features. And, in all fairness, they did plump this disc up with features. But a year from now, this will be a forgotten film.