The Daily Dig: The Unborn (1991)

“The Unborn” is an expertly made body horror that will have you squirming in your seat and rethinking whether you want to procreate.

Out of options, the Marshalls go to an experimental fertility doctor in hopes of getting pregnant. They’ll soon find out that having a baby isn’t as easy as they thought, especially when it comes out with a blood lust! Let’s dig into 1991’s THE UNBORN, directed by Rodman Flender!

As I See It

The opening dinner scene shows a real attention to detail. There are little moments that tell me the director knows horror. The allusion to body horror, the cat jumping on the table, and the hint at danger lurking for Virginia with pregnancy; it may seem innocuous, but it all helps to build tension and set traps that we’ll fall into later.

At their wits’ end after trying to get pregnant for five years, the Marshalls finally get some luck, after a long waiting list, and get in with a very successful fertility doctor (played by James Karen). Of course, the embryo is seeded with some nefarious substances that will lead to a monstrous baby bent on killing anyone who tries to steal the glance or admiration of its mother.

Using the Human Genome Project, which was in its infancy at the time (pun intended), is clever and adds levels of realistic horror to the story. I think of it along the lines of Jordan Peele’s inclusion of “Hands Across America” in Us.

The body horror is well done and will make you squirm. I mean, who hasn’t had a nightmare about their baby ripping through their belly, Alien-style? A double feature of this film and David Cronenberg’s The Brood would be a good contraceptive.

It’s topped off with a nice Psycho homage for the finale, with Virginia sitting in a wooden rocking chair as her husband approaches, and we finally get to see the little bugger as he suckles at his mother’s teat.

Famous Faces

Brooke Adams (Virginia) was in the brilliant 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the Stephen King adaptation The Dead Zone starring Christopher Walken, and she appeared in the commercial within the film The Stuff.

James Karen (Dr. Meyerling) plays Frank in my favorite film of all time, The Return of the Living Dead, and puts in one of my favorite performances in any film, let alone horror.

Lisa Kudrow (Louisa) may only play a Gyno receptionist, but her endlessly endearing personality is on full display. This was her first feature film role (she had been in some TV movies prior), and it’s easy to see why she would catapult to stardom just a few years later.

Kathy Griffin (Connie Chicago) is a stand-up comic.

Of Gratuitous Nature

Well, I’ve never seen a rocking chair sex scene before. No nudity, it’s unique, and brief, but there isn’t much of a point to it other than to show the couple are really into each other. We were already hip to that. We can let this slide thanks to the originality.

Heartthrob

The baby, once born, reminded me of one of the most grotesque creatures I encountered as a child, watching and re-watching movies that I shouldn’t have: Total Recall. Kuato Lives!

Ripe for a Remake

Hell yeah! It’s almost unbelievable that more than thirty years later, the social commentary of this horror is still pertinent.

Spawns

The Unborn II features a new cast and director, who utilize gruesome toddlers instead of newborns.

Where to Watch

The good folks at Shout Factory have a few copies of their release left. It features a new 2K scan from the original film elements. You can also stream it on a few different platforms.