Deadly Midwife (2023) Review – A Predictable But Watchable Pregnancy Thriller
Deadly Midwife: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A functional and unashamedly campy thriller that feels like a polished spiritual successor to the classic Lifetime daytime movie. Deadly Midwife succeeds through its accurate and surprisingly nuanced depiction of gaslighting and narcissism, even while it struggles with a highly predictable plot. Jessica Lowndes and Elysia Rotaru provide solid performances that lean into the film’s “damsel in distress” and “seductive villain” tropes with infectious energy. While it fails to offer any genuine surprises or high-stakes tension, its 2.8 star score reflects a movie that is perfectly content being easy, low-effort entertainment. It won’t satisfy those seeking high art or visceral horror, but it works well enough as a disposable, late-night watch for fans of the “domestic-invader” sub-genre.
Details: Director: Monika Mitchell | Cast: Jessica Lowndes, Elysia Rotaru, Matthew MacCaull, Lauren K. Robek | Runtime: 1h 28m | Release Date: 17 September 2023
Best for: Fans of daytime TV thrillers, those who enjoy stories of psychological gaslighting, and viewers looking for something that doesn’t require too much deep thought.
Worth noting: Despite its Tubi Original status, the film shares much of the same creative DNA and aesthetic as Mitchell’s extensive history of television-produced romance and mystery movies.
Where to Watch: Tubi (Free)
Rating: 2.8/5 Stars
(Predictable narrative beats, fun “villainous” acting, and a surprisingly deep look at narcissistic abuse.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. We are taking a bit of a break from the norm today. We will be reviewing thriller movie Deadly Midwife from 2023.
Table of Contents
A different approach to pregnancy terror
If you arrived at this review looking for an ending explained article for Deadly Midwife, you are in luck. I just finished writing one and you can check it out here – Deadly Midwife Ending Explained. It’s not spoiler-free, unlike this review, and it is quite long so keep that in mind.
Deadly Midwife is one of those movies that, unashamedly, gives away its entire plot in its title. Heavily pregnant Lauren (Jessica Lowndes) is devastated to find that the woman who raised her like she was her own child, and the woman who was set to act as her midwife during her pregnancy, has gone missing.
“Deadly Midwife is one of those movies that, unashamedly, gives away its entire plot in its title.”
Scared and angry at the police’s dismissal of her concerns, Lauren is forced to get on with life and find a new midwife. When a woman mysteriously arrives and applies for the job, Lauren, impressed by her qualifications, hires her, seemingly completely unaware of what the midwife has in store for her.
Naturally, Lauren’s vulnerable state plays a key part in the movie’s plot. She is heavily pregnant and it is hinted at that this is a somewhat risky pregnancy. She is supposed to be avoiding stress so when the things start going drastically wrong in her life, it is, obviously, a massive cause for concern.
It doesn’t help matters that the person Lauren is supposed to be able to trust with, not only, her life but also the life of her baby, clearly has sordid intentions. Lauren has to overcome tremendous odds to unravel the mysterious events taking place in her formerly perfect life.
It’s an extremely predictable thriller
Deadly Midwife is a little strange in that the plot does twist and turn a fair bit. But it almost goes out of its way to project said twists. Nothing here ever comes as a surprise; each major development is incredibly obvious and the writers never really attempt to swerve the viewer. It’s almost like a thriller without the thrills.
“Deadly Midwife is a little strange in that the plot does twist and turn a fair bit. But it almost goes out of its way to project said twists. It’s almost like a thriller without the thrills.”
It’s not as if this is a tremendously bad thing, some thrillers are just like this. But it does mean that this movie definitely won’t satisfy anyone looking to be surprised or shocked. There’s just not much to grab on to here.
In fact, I would go as far as to say that there is an almost “middle of the afternoon, Lifetime movie” quality to Deadly Midwife. Perhaps this should be expected given director Monika Mitchell’s TV movie pedigree. It feels like something you would stumble across while trying to escape the various chat shows that pollute daytime TV.
Daughter in Disguise was very similar. They are movies that don’t require a ton of thought, aren’t particularly offensive, and aren’t particularly thrilling either. You’d be happy to sit through one, occasionally glancing up while reading a magazine or having a nap and don’t need to be too invested in the plot.
Takes few risks
Deadly Midwife is completely content to stay within its thriller-lite trappings. The villains are obvious, their motivations are predictable, there is little in the way of violence. And the movie is never all that tense or atmospheric. Quite a few things happen that are pretty farcical and there are a few moments of eye-rolling stupidity. There is some exploration into the subjects of mental illness and grief which is definitely welcome. But it plays out in a rather familiar manner. This is a movie that, for the most part, is the same thriller you have seen a million times before.
Deadly Midwife goes heavy into the very trendy topic of gaslighting. This will either annoy or entertain depending on your point of view. I do have to commend some of the writing here regarding this subject as it is pretty well done. The people manipulating and undermining Lauren do it in a way that is both subtle and accurate. The depictions of narcissism and coercion stand out for being well researched and convincing. It feels like one of the more considered presentations of the subject. That is quite surprising given the relatively simple story being told here.
“The depictions of narcissism and coercion stand out for being well-researched and convincing. It feels like one of the more considered presentations of the subject.”
Despite my criticisms, Deadly Midwife is still a completely watchable thriller. I am not the world’s biggest fan of movies like this but it certainly does an okay job of scratching that itch. It doesn’t demand too much of the viewer. It tries to keep you guessing while never really being too convoluted. The story is fairly simple and there are enough twists and turns, albeit obvious ones, to keep things flowing along nicely. It’s easy to get behind Lauren’s struggles and some of the side characters are quite fun, Julie (Lauren K. Robek) in particular.
Technically fine
As I mentioned above, there is a distinct campiness to this movie and that extends to the acting. Every character is played as an exaggerated version of certain stereotypes. Be it horrible, narcissistic, manipulators or seductive women with Fatal Attraction-esque dark sides. Jessica Lowndes (90210), as Lauren, is fine, doing exactly what is asked of her as a woman in distress. Elysia Rotaru (Girl House) is tremendous fun as Midwife Olivia. She is seemingly having a great time switching between caring midwife and “person who walks around another woman’s house scantily clad and eating cheese”.
Matthew MacCaull, as Lauren’s husband Anthony, feels like exactly what you would expect from a character like this in a Lifetime movie. I also enjoyed Gabrielle Jacinto, as Rachel, though her role is fairly brief. Cinematography is exactly what you would expect for a movie like this. It looks like a Lifetime, middle-of-the-afternoon movie.
“Elysia Rotaru is tremendous fun as Midwife Olivia, seemingly having a great time switching between caring midwife and person who walks around another woman’s house scantily clad.”
Locations are gorgeous. Though the 16:9 aspect ratio offers a feeling of cheapness that is all too common with movies like this. Colours are a bit washed out and everything looks a little bit soap-opera-esque. Dialogue can be a bit silly at times. The script has some fairly weak moments but it is generally fine.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- The Gaslighting: The film manages a subtle and accurate portrayal of psychological manipulation that is far more considered than typical low-budget thrillers.
- Elysia Rotaru: Her performance as Olivia is a highlight, perfectly balancing the role of the “trustworthy professional” with an unhinged, manipulative undercurrent.
- Watchability: It’s a low-stakes, easy-to-digest story that keeps a decent pace, making it perfect background noise or casual viewing.
The Bad
- Extreme Predictability: The film projects its “twists” so clearly that the intended shocks land with a whimper rather than a bang.
- TV Movie Quality: The 16:9 aspect ratio and washed-out colours give it a cheap, soap-opera aesthetic that lacks cinematic flair.
- Character Logic: There are several moments of eye-rolling stupidity where characters make decisions solely to advance the plot rather than acting realistically.
The Ugly: The Midwife’s “Casual” Behaviour. Certain scenes of Olivia invading Lauren’s domestic space are so intentionally awkward and brazen that they provide the film’s only real moments of discomfort.
Should You Watch Deadly Midwife?
If you are in the mood for an uncomplicated, daytime-style thriller, then yes. It is a 2.8 star film that knows exactly what it is and doesn’t try to be anything else. While it is far from a masterpiece and leans heavily into camp territory, its honest look at narcissistic manipulation provides just enough substance to keep it interesting. It’s a solid, disposable watch for a rainy afternoon.
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