Nasty Baby (2015)

A close-knit trio navigates the idea of creating life, while at the same time being confronted with a brutal scenario.

Director:

Sebastián Silva

Writer:

Sebastián Silva (screenplay)

Stars:

Sebastián Silva, Tunde Adebimpe, Kristen Wiig

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sebastián Silva	...	Freddy
Kristen Wiig	...	Polly
Tunde Adebimpe	...	Mo
Reg E. Cathey	...	The Bishop
Mark Margolis	...	Richard
Agustín Silva	...	Chino
Alia Shawkat	...	Wendy
Lillias White	...	Cecilia
Anthony Chisholm	...	Mo's Father
Marsha Stephanie Blake	...	Mo's Sister / Haimy
William Oliver Watkins	...	Mo's Brother-in-Law
Constance Shulman	...	Bishop's Girlfriend
Neal Huff	...	Gallery Owner
Jesse Thurston	...	Gallery Owner Assistant
Catrina Ganey	...	Policewoman

Storyline

Two gay men are trying to have a baby with a female friend. One of their neighbours is a homophobe and has mental health issues, resulting in him harassing them but them having no recourse, as the police realise that, due to the mental health issues, nothing will come of a complaint. A confrontation is inevitable.

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Plot Keywords:

weak sperm | mentally ill | illegal immigrant | azoospermia | artificial insemination | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content, some disturbing violence, language, drug use and graphic nude images

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sebastián Silva was told that the film would be accepted to the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival if he changed the ending. He declined, and the film was rejected. It eventually premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.

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Connections

References Crazy Heart (2009)

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Soundtracks

Higher Ground
Written by Hudson Mohawke (as Ross Matthew Birchard), Jason Sealee and Lunice Fermin Pierre II
Performed by TNGHT

User Reviews

No more normal

Greetings again from the darkness. Many indie films receive positive responses during a film festival run because most festival goers are frequent movie watchers, and really appreciate the unique and brave approach taken by the rebellious and up-and-coming filmmakers. Writer/director Sebastian Silva lulls us into the comfort zone of a "friends" story and then stuns us with a third act that could seem out-of-the-blue, if one weren't paying close attention along the way.

Mr. Silva also stars as Freddy, a media artist who is working on a video project (entitled Nasty Baby) that features himself (and others) imitating infants. He lives in Brooklyn with his boyfriend Mo, played by TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe (so good in Rachel Getting Married, 2008). They are part of a trio of friends completed by Polly (Kristen Wiig), who is addressing her biological clock by relentlessly pursuing artificial insemination from her two friends.

While it's easy as a viewer to get complacent watching the interactions of these three mostly likable people in various elements: together, separately, at work, with other acquaintances, and especially with neighbors; the script offers many subtle hints along the way about the make-up of each.

The supporting cast is excellent and includes Reg E Cathey ("House of Cards") as a mentally-shaky neighbor, Mark Margolis ("Breaking Bad") as a more level-headed neighbor, Alia Shawkat (underutilized here, but very talented) as Freddy's assistant, and Neal Huff as the eccentric gallery owner.

Normal seems like a pretty straightforward term, but the film shows that normal really doesn't exist, since it's always changing. The relationship of this trio of friends, their plan for child-rearing, and the family dinner at Mo's parent's home … all examples of how normal has shifted. And to top it off, the film's third act can't be considered normal by any standard of story-telling, and you will question how you missed the true character of the main players … and maybe even how you would react, if you found yourself in this spot. If nothing else, the film might make you a bit more tolerant of your annoying neighbor that has caused you so many negative thoughts over the years.

Details

Country:

USA Chile

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

30 October 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nasty Baby

Filming Locations:

Fort Greene, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,023, 25 October 2015

Gross USA:

$79,800

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$80,772

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fabula, Funny Balloons, Versatile

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1