‘Birth/Rebirth’ is a psychological horror thriller that follows Dr. Rose Casper (Marin Ireland), a reticent and socially inhibited pathologist who is fascinated by the regenerative biological process. After suffering a tragic loss Celie Morales (Judy Reyes), a midwife working from the same hospital, crosses paths with Rose. The two join forces to develop a previously unimagined serum with regenerative properties, enabling them to bring the dead back to life.
The film considers motherhood and familial bonds from a very intimate perspective. Following Reyes arc as she transforms from a loving mother to a killer, the woman crosses many barriers towards her ultimate purpose, to protect her daughter Lila.
Conversely, Ireland’s Dr. Casper slavishly devotes herself to science, striving towards her obsession with developing the regenerative serum and to defeat the ultimate, inescapable demise everyone is fated for. Throughout the story Casper’s disdain for children and motherhood can feel a bit heavy-handed, particularly seeing as how she uses her reproductive capabilities in order to produce viable material for her experiments.
After an infection leads Rose to losing her reproductive organs, the character slowly opens to the idea of having lost something. As she moves forward in exploring alternative means for her to carry on her research, Dr. Casper also grows to appreciate the emotional weight being carried by her work.
‘Birth/Rebirth’ explores familiar horror territory, namely re-animation. The study of the idea is approached from a more intimate and feminine perspective, diving deep into the amoral practices and questionable motives carried by both women in the name of science and love.
By creating a hybrid of both scientific and emotional driving forces, the film delivers a truly terrifying look at what justification some can try to hide behind in order to save those closes to them. Ultimately resulting in the death of an innocent patient, Casper and Morales resolve to leave their moral constraints behind, focusing on their work and family.
Ireland delivers a fresh take on the mad scientist who strives for unparalleled scientific achievement and breathes new life into the Frankenstein tale of re-animation, creating a tale of someone who devotes themselves entirely to their work and gains a new perspective on why life could and should be preserved. Even though the character takes drastic and questionable steps towards her goal, her aims remain unchanged, providing for a truly haunting look at the scientist.
In parallel, Reyes’ Celie provides for the emotional driving force behind re-animating her daughter, fighting to win her life back at all costs, leading the woman to take drastic steps and commit to her choices even at the cost of another’s life.
Truly an unforgettable experience, ‘Birth/Rebirth’ invites its viewers to consider the lengths they’d go to for someone they love, for scientific curiosity or just to find the ultimate cure. Haunting in its ability to seep into the viewers psyche and make one re-consider their individual stance on life and death, the film successfully delivers a truly haunting experience.
Score: 4/4
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