To me, this movie is perfection.

Excellent, smart action film.

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The Unborn (1991) * 1/2 (out of 4) A couple (Brooke Adams, Jeff Hayenga) unable to have children of their own go to a doctor (James Karen) who is experimenting with fertilization. The experiment works and the woman finds herself pregnant but soon she begins losing her mind fearing that the baby is pretty much eating through her. THE UNBORN is a pretty bad movie from start to finish but I can admit that there are a few effective things in it as well as several good performances. I thought the actors were about the best thing going for the movie and this includes Adams who is extremely good and believable as the mother who soon realizes that all of her fears are coming true. I thought she did a very good job at showing the fear in the character. Hayenga is also good in his bit and of course Karen is always worth watching no matter what he's in. I think the biggest problem with the film is the screenplay. I think the film gets off to a very bad start because we're supposed to like this couple but I must admit that I didn't care for them a bit. This really hurt the Adams' character because I really didn't like her and I certainly never cared about her. I think the film is borrowing from ROSEMARY'S BABY but instead of Satan we've got evil DNA working. I thought there were a few effective scenes including some of the murders, which were quite dark and chilling. I'd also say that director Rodman Flender at least builds up a dark atmosphere. With that said, even at 80-minutes this thing drags pretty badly and in the end it's best to just watch the Polanski classic or even IT'S ALIVE instead. Of course, if you do decide to watch this you'll get to see both Lisa Kudrow and Kathy Griffin years before fame.

Borrowing liberally from Rosemary's Baby (and mimicking some of the strategies of Child's Play), The Unborn still retains its own unique sense of horror, steeped in paranoia and genetic conspiracies. While many of its scare tactics end up producing the opposite effect after an intriguing build, the film manages a consistent atmosphere of dread throughout, and most of its jarring visuals succeed in their horror film intentions. Plus, don't miss early roles from Lisa Kudrow as a receptionist and Kathy Griffin as a Lamaze instructor.After years of unsuccessful attempts at getting pregnant, Virginia Marshall (Brooke Adams) and her husband Brad (Jeff Hayenga) turn to the highly reputable Dr. Meyerling (James Karen). With the revolutionary new techniques developed by the skillful doctor, Virginia finally becomes pregnant, but she quickly finds her dream becoming a nightmare as she succumbs to delusions, paranoia, and the realization that there is something unnatural about her baby...Apparently, just like in Rosemary's Baby, a mother's love knows no boundaries - even when the child is a bloodthirsty homicidal mutant superbaby. The comparisons don't stop with Virginia's change of heart toward her killer kid, however, as loving husband Brad is involved with the creepy Human Genome Project advocate Dr. Meyerling - exactly like John Cassavetes' Guy, who participated in a devilish cult. Aside from very obvious, similar themes, even the subplots - such as a fellow patient who catches on to the doctor's genetic experimentations and winds up comatose before she can talk it over with Virginia - mirrors Polanski's superior film.The eeriness of an alien creature growing inside of the unsuspecting heroin is occasionally genuine, and further amplified by her frequent isolation, nightmares and familial estrangement. Her history of depression, breakdowns, a revolting rash, and disquieting music (periodically replaced with jazzier, badly out-of-place rock beats) also aid in the film's horror, but unfortunately too much of it is unintentionally hilarious. A particularly grizzly moment in which one of Meyerling's victims stabs her own pregnant belly with a butcher knife, along with several other choice bits of foreshadowing, is all out the window once the glistening plastic baby is finally revealed. The terror of the setup and the creepiness of the characters succumb to chuckles. It's hard not to laugh at such a pathetic prop.Famous schlock movie producer Roger Corman said that he intended for The Unborn to be "Rosemary's Baby meets Cronenberg's The Fly." He was also playing off of the success of Child's Play and It's Alive - sadly all of the films used for inspiration were infinitely more affecting, although The Unborn did spawn a very obscure sequel.The Massie Twins

"The Unborn" is a huge misstep of a horror film.**SPOILERS**Having trouble with conceiving children, Virginia Marshall, (Brooke Adams) and her husband Brad, (Jeff Heyenga) decide to visit Dr. Richard Meyerling, (James Karen) a fertility specialist with a high success rate. After undergoing a procedure, she finds out that she is pregnant with their child, and the two begin preparing their out in anticipation of the arrival of the baby. When she starts to experience a series of mood swings and odd behavior, which Dr. Meyerling attributes to a normal pregnancy but she still believes is connected to the chemicals that had been injected into her during her treatment with the doctor. Finally discovering that the baby's change was indeed through the doctor, she sets off to get rid of the baby and get her life back.The Good News: There really isn't a whole lot here to like. One of the few pleasures is it's great premise and set-up. Having something such as a fertility clinic and the shady goings-on within is a wonderful idea. Then by having their creations affecting one of their patients in the worst way possible is simply marvelous and makes for great potential. The last ten minutes are it's best, with the realization about what has happened and the determination to avenge it coming up with some really good minor action sequences in a secret laboratory filled with a quite creepy surprise and a really decent car-crash at the end. Other than that, there really isn't a whole lot here that was enjoyable.The Bad News: It gets points for it's clever set-up, but the fact still remains that this was a painful film to sit through. Most of this is due to the fact that there isn't much in the way of anything at all happening. Most of the time in the beginning is spent on the ways they're preparing for the baby, which is a realistic touch but just slows the film down to a crawl. To feature so many different scenes is quite excruciating and just needless. There's no need to have so many, it's obvious what is going on, just get moving. More time should've been spent with the last part of the movie, which is quite good and it's only redeeming feature, and a feature-length adaptation of that kind of scares would've certainly been far more fun to sit through. As realistic as they are, it's just not that exciting at all and really hurts it. Another big factor is that there's a plot twist revealed just before which is so obviously coming that it doesn't really register as it should and comes off as clichéd. It's even ripped off from another movie, in the same type of scene, camera-angle for camera-angle. To have ripped off the idea wouldn't have been so bad, but to be as blatant as it is with it's stealing is really not that good and does it no favors. This was just a really disappointing and dull film.The Final Verdict: While it does have a pretty interesting set-up and premise, unfortunately this thing falters as there's a real lack of any real horror and it's just a long, drawn-out affair. If it appeals to you, give it a shot, but don't be surprised if there isn't much in it.Rated R: Violence, Graphic Language, Brief Nudity and a long, mild clothed sex scene

The Unborn is a very, very different film. James Karen & Brooke Adams are in the film and they performed quite well. this film is builds up solidly and it keeps you going. Though I think you must be a horror fan to watch this because of the scenes and the plot. There is one brief sex scene with no nudity that could have been left out and to some people this scene may disappoint someone like Me that's into the film and thinks that stuff ruins a good film but that's it when it comes to that. There is a scene where Adams' character goes nuts and kills a cat but you can tell its not real. The music is very different but very good. The Unborn in My opinion is a really creepy film that's superbly unpredictable and that's quite strange! I recommend all horror fans to this movie!