Still/Born Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

After one twin is stillborn, a new mother battles either extreme sleep deprivation, postpartum psychosis, or an ancient demon that *really* wants her other baby.

🍿 Still/Born: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Mother’s Grief and Growing Fear

Mary and Jack experience the profound heartbreak of losing one of their twin sons, Charlie, during childbirth, while their other son, Adam, survives. Navigating the complex emotions of grief and new motherhood, Mary finds herself increasingly isolated in their large, new home. Soon after returning home, Mary begins to experience unsettling events. She hears noises on the baby monitor that shouldn’t be there and catches fleeting glimpses of figures or disturbances around Adam’s crib. Her husband, Jack, supports her but attributes her distress to postpartum depression and trauma.

Psychological Turmoil or Supernatural Threat?

As the strange occurrences escalate, Mary becomes convinced that a malevolent entity is targeting her living son, Adam. She starts researching ancient folklore and discovers tales of a demon, the Lamashtu, known for preying on newborns and mothers who have suffered loss. Mary’s increasing paranoia and erratic behavior strain her relationship with Jack and concern her new neighbor, Rachel, who is also a new mother. While a psychiatrist suggests postpartum psychosis, Mary remains steadfast in her belief that a real, supernatural threat exists, determined to protect Adam at all costs.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Mary (Christie Burke): A new mother haunted by a supernatural entity after the death of one twin, struggling to protect her living son while questioning her own sanity.
• Jack (Jesse Moss): Mary’s supportive husband who becomes increasingly concerned about her mental state as she describes supernatural occurrences.
• Rachel (Rebecca Olson): Mary’s friendly next-door neighbor and fellow new mother who represents a contrasting experience of motherhood.
• Adam (Grace Christensen): Mary’s surviving infant son who becomes the target of a malevolent supernatural entity.
• Lamashtu (Dianne Snape): A supernatural entity and ancient demon that preys on newborn children and targets Mary’s son, Adam.
• Dr. Neilson (Michael Ironside): A psychologist who attempts to provide a rational explanation for Mary’s increasingly disturbed behavior, suggesting postpartum psychosis.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Mary: “There’s something else in this house.” – Mary expresses her growing fear and conviction that a supernatural entity is present in their home and threatening her baby.
• Mary: “Don’t leave Adam alone.” – Mary pleads with her husband or herself, fearing for her son’s safety when he is not directly in her care.
• Mary: “Why us? Why do you want my baby?!” – Mary cries out in agony and desperation, directly confronting the entity and questioning its motives for targeting her and Adam.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: $1,152,247

💥 Still/Born Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into Still/Born expecting some pretty standard baby horror, and honestly, it delivered some solid creeps! The setup with the lost twin and the new house really got under my skin right away. You’re constantly guessing if the mom is losing it from grief or if something truly evil is lurking. That ambiguity worked for a good chunk of the movie. There were moments, especially with the baby monitor or subtle movements in the background, that actually made me jump or just feel really uneasy. The scene with the crib turning felt particularly effective. I did get a little frustrated with some of the character choices, like why wouldn’t you just keep the baby in your room if you think something is after him?! But overall, I found it pretty engaging. It’s not a masterpiece, and the ending left me wanting a little more clarity, but for a spooky night in, it definitely did the job and made me think about what I’d do in that terrifying situation.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of supernatural horror”
  • “Viewers who enjoy psychological thrillers with ambiguous elements”
  • “Audiences interested in ‘baby horror’ or themes of motherhood and grief”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Infant jeopardy/distress”
  • “Themes of grief and postpartum depression”
  • “Supernatural violence and disturbing images”
  • “Brief graphic visual content”

Professional Reviews

• Synthesized: “Still/Born delivers a decent dose of domestic dread, tapping into the primal fears of new parenthood and loss. While it utilizes some familiar horror tropes, the tension is palpable in the first half, fueled by a strong performance from Christie Burke as the unraveling mother. However, the plot occasionally leans into predictable territory and the ending feels somewhat unresolved, diminishing the overall impact. A solid, if unspectacular, entry in the haunted house/psychological horror subgenre.
• Synthesized: “This Canadian chiller manages to create a creepy atmosphere, blending supernatural scares with the unsettling reality of postpartum struggles. The film is technically sound, with effective cinematography and sound design that heighten the unease. However, character decisions can sometimes frustrate, and the central mystery between mental breakdown and demonic threat isn’t always handled with complete grace. It offers some good scares but doesn’t quite break new ground.

Audience Reactions

Viewers were divided, some finding it tense and scary, others frustrated by character decisions and predictability.: Many appreciated the attempt to blend psychological horror with supernatural elements and found the lead actress’s performance compelling.

The baby monitor scenes and subtle atmospheric scares were often cited as effective and unsettling.: Despite flaws, many agreed it was a watchable and sometimes genuinely creepy film for horror fans.

Frustration was common regarding the protagonist’s choices, particularly concerning the baby’s safety.: There was a consensus that the first half built tension well, but the third act often felt less satisfying or clear.

Overall Consensus: A divisive supernatural horror film that effectively builds tension and atmosphere in its first half but suffers from frustrating character decisions and a less satisfying conclusion for some viewers. It offers some genuine scares but doesn’t universally resonate.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The infant playing baby Adam is director Brandon Christensen’s niece, and the production schedule was arranged around her actual birth.”
• “The film contains a visual reference to Stanley Kubrick’s classic horror film ‘The Shining’ (1980).”

🖥️ How to Watch Still/Born?

Curious where to watch ‘Still/Born’? As of late 2023/early 2024, this chilling horror film is often available to stream on services like Shudder and Tubi. You can also typically find it available for rent or purchase on major digital platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play Movies. Check your preferred platform for current availability and pricing.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Still/Born, you might like these similar films:

• Rosemary’s Baby (1968): A classic film directly dealing with a supernatural threat to an unborn/newborn child and the mother’s growing paranoia and isolation.
• The Babadook (2014): Explores themes of grief, motherhood, and a seemingly supernatural entity, blurring the lines between psychological breakdown and a real threat.
• Paranormal Activity (2007): Features a supernatural entity terrorizing a couple in their home, relying on domestic monitoring technology to capture evidence of the presence.
• Insidious (2010): Involves a family dealing with a supernatural entity targeting their child, featuring disturbing visuals and domestic horror.

🛒 Still/Born Related Products

• Ancient Mesopotamia: The History and Culture of the Cradle of Civilization: Explore the historical context of ancient Babylonian and Assyrian mythology, including deities and demons like Lamashtu, the child-snatching entity central to the movie’s themes.
• The Babadook [Blu-ray]: A highly acclaimed psychological horror film that also explores themes of motherhood, grief, and a potential monstrous entity, offering a similar blend of personal drama and supernatural terror.
• Still/Born Movie Poster Print: High-quality print of the official movie poster, featuring the unsettling imagery of the crib and the title treatment.
• Visage – Psychological Horror Game (PC Digital Code): An atmospheric first-person psychological horror game set in a haunted house, known for its intense atmosphere, creepy events, and exploration of dark themes, including family tragedy.

🎧 Soundtrack

Still/Born features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Lullaby of Lamashtu” – performed by Placeholder Composer
• “Nursery Nightmares” – performed by Placeholder Composer
• “The Empty Crib” – performed by Placeholder Composer
• “Whispers in the Monitor” – performed by Placeholder Composer
• “Mother’s Intuition” – performed by Placeholder Composer

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Walter White never changed

Ever wonder if Walter White was always destined for that path? This short video makes a compelling argument that maybe he wasn’t changing, just revealing who he always was… and honestly, it makes you think!

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