Grace (2009) Review – A Disturbing but Slow Pregnancy Horror
Grace: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A mediocre addition to the pregnancy horror sub-genre that suffers from a glacial pace and some truly baffling creative choices. While the final act offers a genuinely unsettling payoff, the journey there is marred by a script that often feels like a parody of its own genre. Jordan Ladd struggles to bring depth to a lead role that requires a far more nuanced touch; she often comes across as childlike rather than traumatised. Furthermore, the aggressive sound production is a nightmare for anyone with sensitive hearing, turning mundane scenes into a cacophony of discomfort. It is a 2.5 star effort that works well as a disturbing character study but fails to achieve the heights of similar, more polished films. If you can stomach the poor acting and the repetitive nature of the middle act, there is a haunting story here, but it is one that requires a great deal of patience from the viewer.
Details: Director: Paul Solet | Cast: Jordan Ladd, Gabrielle Rose, Stephen Park | Runtime: 1h 25m | Release Date: 2009
Best for: Fans of “maternal dread” horror who do not mind a very slow pace and those who enjoy disturbing, low-budget character studies.
Worth noting: The film was expanded from a short film of the same name also directed by Paul Solet, which may explain why the feature-length version feels somewhat overstretched.
Where to Watch: Amazon🛒, Apple TV
Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
(An unsettling but uneven pregnancy horror that is significantly hindered by poor lead acting and an overbearing, uncomfortable sound design.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror and to another horror movie review. Today we are reviewing Paul Solet’s Grace from 2009.
Table of Contents
Pregnancy themed new parent horror
Grace follows the story of expectant parents Madeline and Michael. The pair have been trying for a baby for a long time. After a number of miscarriages, Madeline finally makes it through the early stages of pregnancy. Fearing the risks of giving birth in hospitals, Madeline chooses a more natural and holistic approach.
Her ex-girlfriend, Patricia, is a midwife and Madeline wishes to give birth in her clinic, despite the objections of Michael’s overbearing mother. On a trip back from an emergency visit to the hospital, everything changes for Michael and Madeline in a way they couldn’t have imagined.
Grace is pretty standard fare when it comes to pregnancy themed horror. We have new parents desperate to do the right thing. Much like Delivery: The Beast Within, it becomes apparent, early on, that there is something very wrong. An accident suffered by Madeline offers an opportunity to delve into the darker side of pregnancy, only for the story to open up in a somewhat unexpected way. It’s fairly typical stuff but, also, pretty engaging.
Fairly standard stuff
Grace moves rapidly between the usual stages one might expect with these types of films. Playing to type for the most part, we see Madeline clash with her mother-in-law and husband. We see the pair visit the midwife and we have the familiar drama elements that are typical for horror like this. It doesn’t take too long for things to open up, however. We are quickly thrust into the world of a new mother caring for something otherworldly.
“Grace is exactly what you might expect of a movie like this. It doesn’t do anything particularly different and is, very much, by the numbers when it comes to this theme.”
Grace is exactly what you might expect of a movie like this. It doesn’t do anything particularly different. Aside from the initial stages of pregnancy, the meddling in-laws, the difficulty to conceive, the visits to the midwife and what not, events mostly take place after Grace’s birth.
The focus is placed squarely on Madeline’s insecurity, coupled with her desire to protect her daughter, whatever the cost. Flies swarm over Grace, a persistent smell lingers, regardless of how much Madeline washes her, and the little bugger has a propensity for biting. If this feels familiar it is because you have probably seen it all before. Grace is, very much, by the numbers when it comes to this theme.
A slight edge?
Solet attempts to portray events with something of a comedic edge. A satirical play on Madeline’s strict vegan lifestyle stands in stark contrast to the later events of the movie. As far as horror goes, Grace does manage some effective moments of tension.
“Grace is exactly what you might expect of a movie like this. It doesn’t do anything particularly different and is, very much, by the numbers when it comes to this theme.”
Whereas the movie doesn’t go quite as far into the horror as one might expect, being far more content to act as something of a drama movie for the most part. As the ending draws closer, the atmosphere darkens leading to an effective final 15 minutes. Grace, more often than not, chooses to be disturbing rather than scary.
Practical effects are, generally, quite bad. Earlier scenes featuring the baby are quite disturbing given the context. Later on we are subjected to awkward closeups of the baby’s mouth that look, simply, dreadful. The body horror elements never really get to stretch their legs. The movie seems too concerned with not showing a naked boob to really get into the damage being done. It feels like a lot was left on the table here.
Very slow and drama focused
The above plays into some of the bigger issues with this horror. Grace is content to meander for much of its length. Very little happens. A mother getting little sleep and struggling with a new baby is hardly a recipe for good horror. Perhaps for the person suffering that fate it is. But to watch? It is simply rather dull and Grace indulges in it far too greedily. On top of this, the movie is full of plot holes. The decisions made by characters here are ridiculous and events that would simply never take place are presented as feasible.
Many of the scenes appear to be designed to make the viewer feel uneasy. The sound of a person eating a steak. A baby loudly crying. An elderly woman noisily breast-feeding a man, for example. It’s a nightmare for sufferers of misophonia. I had to actually drop the volume at numerous points as the sound production is simply barbaric.
“Grace is content to meander for much of its length. A mother getting little sleep and struggling with a new baby is simply rather dull and Grace indulges in it far too greedily.”
Whereas the score is decent and rather fitting, there is a distinct use of oversensitive mics turned up way too much. Character’s voices are loud and direct; disgusting sound effects feel as though they are right next to your ear. It is both uncomfortable and feels rather cheap.
The camerawork falls into a similar trap. Shots are taken from odd angles. At times it is almost filmed from a first-person perspective. It feels brutally low budget, despite being filmed on what is, evidently, decent equipment. This feeling of cheapness is further compounded by goofs like seeing crew members in shot. It all feels a bit amateurish and rather careless.
Some awful acting
Acting in Grace is absolutely atrocious in parts. Some of the worst I have seen in anything outside of micro-budget horror. Jordan Ladd, as Madeline, is particularly guilty of this. I really don’t want to bag on her but she took me out of every scene. Her delivery is horrible and, almost, childlike at times. She only manages competence during her childbirth scene; everything else is really bad.
Her acting really isn’t helped by Paul Solet’s absolutely abhorrent script. I don’t know how anyone would deliver some of these lines well. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Grace reminded me of Resident Evil. And I don’t mean the films or the remakes of the game. I mean the original Resident Evil video game with all of its comedic line delivery. Grace is so reminiscent of that in parts. It is horribly awkward.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Effective Ending: The final fifteen minutes manage to build genuine tension and deliver a disturbing conclusion that justifies the earlier wait.
- Atmospheric Dread: When the film focuses on the isolation of the new mother, it captures a palpable sense of unease that is quite effective.
- Decent Score: The musical accompaniment is well-composed and fits the somber, dark tone of the narrative perfectly.
The Bad
- Jordan Ladd: Her performance is often childlike and unconvincing, making it difficult to engage with the character’s emotional journey.
- Abhorrent Script: The dialogue is frequently awkward and unrealistic; it often sounds more like a video game from the late nineties than a modern film.
- Poor Practical Effects: The close-up shots of the baby are poorly executed and look incredibly cheap, which ruins the immersion of the horror scenes.
The Ugly: The Audio Production. The use of oversensitive microphones makes every sound, from crying to eating, an abrasive assault on the ears that is genuinely painful for misophonia sufferers.
Should You Watch Grace?
Only if you are a completionist of the pregnancy horror sub-genre. It is a 2.5 star film that has moments of brilliance buried under a mountain of poor acting and technical oversights. While the central concept is disturbing, the execution is too amateurish to recommend to a general audience. If you want a better take on these themes, you might want to look towards Huesera or The Babadook instead.
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