Pregnancy is joyous news for most family but for some it might be scary and overwhelming. This becomes the very reason for some horror movies to incorporate it in them. They play on known fears or conjure up new innovative ones that are enough to spook someone up.
A paradox between something amazing and something frightful is what makes it a great hook for storytelling. In this video we bring to you some spine-chilling pregnancy horror films that are bound to creep you out.
Inside (2007)
A couple Sarah and Matthieu Scarangelo encounter a car crash four months before Christmas killing the latter while Sarah and their unborn child survives. A depressed Sarah stays at home during Christmas Eve alone grieving for her dead husband, a day before she left for the hospital to deliver the baby.
Later at night when a woman knocks at Sarah’s door and persuades her to let her in to use her phone. Sarah feigns an excuse but is taken aback when she comes to know that the woman knows of her husband’s death and enters her home by force.
A scared Sarah calls the cop but when they find no one they assure her by patrolling outside her house. But things take a turn for the worse when the woman reappears intending to steal Sarah’s baby and would stop at nothing even if it meant killing those in her way.
Julian Maury and Alexandre Bustillo’s Inside, also known as A l’interieur in French, holds a unique and artistic vision that unravels into a bloodbath that no one anticipates within the genre of pregnancy horror films. Often compared to John Carpenter’s Halloween, it takes a trip back to the late 70s and early 80s, where minimalist ideas created the base for any good horror movie.
This slasher is a slight slow burn that makes the audience claustrophobic after a while into watching it. Nevertheless, the best thing about it is that it features two strong women in the leads; a clear protagonist and a straightforward antagonist to oppose her. The film is based on a solid screenplay revolving around these extremely empathetic women.
This makes it difficult for the viewers to choose between good and evil since it is not a clear cut comparison between the two; several viewers tend to sympathize with the antagonist. Besides the blood and gore, the film displays breath-taking cinematography all thanks to Laurent Bares. This one is quiet an emotional rollercoaster ride whose groundwork lies in its aesthetics and environment.
The Astronaut’s Wife (1999)
Spencer Armacost and Alex Streck are two shuttle astronauts who leave the spacecraft briefly to repair a satellite. Unfortunately an explosion occurs which renders NASA to lose contact for them momentarily.
Fortunately for them, they are rescued and brought back home safely and are reunited with their spouses. But something is amiss as they both refuse to talk about what happened in those moments.
The Astronaut’s Wife is a high-concept film portraying space travel’s harsh realities via science fiction, and how a cast with just the right chemistry can make for an incredible motion picture.
The film’s premise, inspired by Invasion of the Body Snatchers, holds an eerie vibe as soon as the astronauts land back on Earth. It is a creepy sci-fi pregnancy horror movie with cheesy dialogues and a strange twist that leans more towards the extraterrestrial than the occult. Its direction has been executed stylishly with the highest degree of dramatics that to some extent resembles a 1950s sci-fi potboiler.
Writer and director Rand Ravich, simultaneously alternates between stylized abstraction and naturalized moods as the movie’s plot progresses. Still, there lingers a recurring atmosphere of unease that viewers will notice.
Moreover, Ravich also creates Charlize Theron’s character so that it is easy for the audience to sympathize with her situation and be afraid at the same time. Overall, he takes them through a wide range of emotions, starting from fear to relief to utter dread, by the film’s climax.
Demon Seed (1977)
A couple Alex and Susan Harris work as scientist and child psychologists respectively. Their house is programmed by an artificial intelligence system named Alfred. Susan resents Alex’s work because she feels like it has dehumanised him and their differing opinion leads them to have conflicts that eventually causes the couple to decide to separate.
Alex is keen on making use of his technology to solve medical problems especially leukaemia that caused his daughter’s untimely death. His latest work is Proteus IV, an artificial intelligence system advanced enough to question human judgment. It requests Alex for more access to study human behaviour closely which Alex refuses. Left on its own, Proteus finds a way to make do with what he sees in their home.
Being impregnated by the devil is one thing, but by a computer system that isn’t even a living, breathing being is a whole new level of creepy. Donald Cammell’s Demon Seed is a hidden 70s gem that offers a twisted social criticism disguised in this absurd idea.
The concept might have seemed farfetched back when this film was released, but nowadays, with series like Black Mirror, technology doing outlandish things to human beings does not come as a surprise.
The film is self-reflective while also instilling a nightmarish eeriness within viewers as they are bound to rethink their involvement with high-end gadgets. It is adapted from the horror novel written by Dean Koontz that dwells upon the fears that can unleash onto the world if technology could become corrupt, and showcases it via Proteus IV.
Demon Seed exists within a category that has several movies of similar genres and themes. It encompasses subthemes like impregnation by weird entities and using the reproductive capability to create tolls for spreading terror.
The Unborn (2003)
Por wakes up in a hospital after severely being beaten by her dug dealer. She discovers she is 10 weeks pregnant. A pregnant Por is haunted by the visions of a strange woman whom she initially mistakes as a ghost.
It is only later she realises that the deceased woman is only looking for help. She seeks her friend’s help and the duo set out to uncover the mystery behind the tormented woman’s death.
Bhandit Thongdee’s The Unborn is a Thai horror movie that is both classy and trashy at the same time. It has a rare plot that viewers might lose hope early on while watching, but it skilfully revives itself and rises with a twist that intrigues everyone. It is filled with waves of complexity that ends up with a thrilling climax and resolution towards the end.
It is a classic ghost story where Thongdee sets out its blueprint to unravel in the form of a mystery. This occurs with a handful of creepy visuals and some Thai folklore that he incorporates that enhances the movie’s horror and thrill. The plot is supposedly based on a real tale revolving around real addictions in their culture.
Besides the excellent visuals and cinematography, the special effects are good combining traditional practical effects with CGI animation. This shows creative use of the limited resources that the filming crew had. Overall, Bhandit Thongdee has retrieved his inspiration from the Pang brothers and created a modern, atmospheric pregnancy flick.
Baby Blood (1990)
A cruel circus owner’s wife Yanka is pregnant with his child. He is abusive and beats her daily. One day, a leopard, captured in Africa, is brought to the circus but it soon dies. However, a weird snake-like creature escapes the dead leopard and takes refuge in Yanka’s body.
The parasite takes over her foetus and craves human blood. An initially reluctant Yanka agrees to the blood-thirsty parasite after being overwhelmed by her husband’s cruelty and goes out on a rampage to feed the creature she is now nurturing in her womb.
Released in the United States as The Evil Within, Baby Blood remains one of the most underrated splatter gems of the 1990s. Unlike its French counterpart, that is the original film, the American one didn’t witness even half the gore and bloodshed that gives this film its thrill.
Nevertheless, it will constantly make viewers jump off their seats in disbelief about how every subsequent scene is better than the previous one. It displays entertaining and inventive deaths, including bodies being blown up, heads being severed, and throats slashed. Baby Blood marks an important landmark in French cinema that has successfully stirred up a horror film that freaks the audience out, right from the beginning.
It doesn’t merely resort to creative deaths and gore to keep viewers entertained, but it also includes an eerie atmosphere and a gripping storyline that captures the interest of the audience.
The story is original to past pregnancy horror movies that usually don’t witness the pregnant mother actively participating in nurturing the creature within her like Rosemary’s Baby. However, by giving Emmanuelle Escourrou’s Yanka the chance to do this, the film has introduced an exciting plotline.
Still/Born (2017)
Mary, who is experiencing pregnancy for the first time, is expecting twins. Sadly enough, only one of them makes it. While raising her infant son Adam, Mary experiences symptoms of postpartum depression that lead her to assume that a supernatural entity is after her son. When Mary’s husband leaves for a business trip, things start to unfold in the house in the most horrific manner.
Brandon Christensen’s Still/Born dwells into several familiar conventions of horror known to viewers. It also touches the surface of some themes more relevant to pregnancy horror films, such as the fear of motherhood, postpartum depression, etc.
Besides these, the film also engages its audience by maintaining a consistent level of tension with decent bouts of jump scares and a terrific performance by Christie Burke playing the lead. Horror movie fans used to the genre, shouldn’t have too much trouble anticipating the film’s plot once they see the hallucinations and terrifying noises.
Interestingly Still/Born, with its eerie atmosphere, only does as much damage as making parents of infants doubt the use of a baby monitor. Although the screenplay presents certain inconsistencies, these were not evident in the film’s execution.
Overall, this movie’s ultimate goal is to leave viewers at the edge of their seats while undergoing nerve-wracking suspense and maybe even a bit of confusion. It is nevertheless a thrilling watch and a good treasure among pregnancy horror movies.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
A young couple Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse move into Bramford, an iconic building in New York. They hope to start their own family soon. The couple meet with their new neighbour, a peculiar couple whose eccentricity is rather odd. One night, Rosemary has a rather frightening experience which she dismisses as a nightmare.
After she wakes up the next morning, she discovers herself to be pregnant. Her elderly next door neighbour Minnie visits Rosemary often and gives her a drink saying it’s good for the unborn baby’s health.
However, things change for Rosemary as she gradually starts getting isolated from her friend’s circle, even her husband’s behaviour starts becoming odd. She has a mental breakdown thinking everyone around her will take the baby only to discover the shocking truth at the end.
Directed by Roman Polanski, Rosemary’s Baby is a timeless horror classic. It combines unthinkable danger with an element of brooding and macabre. The uniqueness of this film lies in the fact that till the very end, it maintains an eerie sense of humor and a spine-chilling thrill that makes viewers want to stay and continue watching no matter how scary it gets.
The movie, which was originally based on Ira Levin’s novel about the witches and demons of the modern day proves that one does not need jump scares, monsters, or even loud noises to scare the living crap out of viewers. The film thrives on much more than suspense, the first and foremost thing that makes this film brilliant is Polanski’s unique direction style.
Every filmmaker who has made a horror movie uses different techniques to instil fear within those watching it. But none have so far been able to replicate Polanski’s touch that paved the way for a handful of performances that were brilliant and inspired by the original story.
Interestingly, viewers who read the book and then watch the movie will tackle the film differently from those who have not read the book because Polanski unravels the story in a more lucid manner and provides the audience with eerie information very early on in the story.
Species II (1998)
Two astronauts Dennis Gamble and Patrick Ross have completed their first successful mission to Mars. Patrick gets infected by an extraterrestrial species during the mission and as a result starts mutating which impacts him rather bizarrely.
The pair is soon brought home and asked to refrain from any sexual activity for the time being. However, Patrick is far from adhering to these instructions as he is hell bent on being sexually involved with Eve.
Peter Medak’s Species II presents applauding performances from all the cast members, including Natasha Henstridge’s clone created in the laboratory. Its special effects, mostly done with CGI animation, are slightly cheesy but convey the impact that the film intends. It is structured in an amusing sequence of events that make the viewers sigh in astonishment as each scene brings a new twist.
The movie features certain complicated events that might appear confusion in the narrative, but everything coherently unwinds in the climax, and the audience can make sense of the story. The first Species was an entertaining B-flick that left viewers giggling at the terrific cast’s cheesy performances.
Although that had its sleazy moments, viewers often compare the two reminiscing about the first one and hoping this would turn out the same. However, Species II marks an improvement in execution and plot when it comes to innovative stories revolving around bizarre pregnancies. One of the biggest reasons for this is that Species II did not take itself as seriously as its prequel, which was evident to viewers while watching the film.
Prometheus (2012)
The film is premised on Archaeologist Dr. Elizabeth Shaw setting out on a rather exciting and ambitious scientific expedition with her partner Charlie Holloway. The couple is accompanied with a crew consisting of almost seventeen people. The trope follows a trail of clues.
They are aboard a space exploration spacecraft called USCCSS Prometheus which passes through rocky terrains. The crew’s goal is to investigate whether there really does exists an extraterrestrial species called Engineers.
They navigate through a mysterious and complex structure of dark chambers and an ominous system of tunnels that lead them to things which one would refuse to believe unless they saw with their own eyes. Here, they discover something that threatens all of humankind.
Prometheus, directed by Ridley Scott, is an intriguing and magnificent sci-fi horror film. It contains a thought-provoking storyline regarding the existence and origin of man. The film’s vibe resembles the classic, tradition of the sci-fi era’s golden age towards the late 70s. It draws its inspiration from films like Alien but is set in a universe and premise of its own.
Unlike Alien, however, Prometheus is driven majorly by action sequences and weapons rather than suspense and shadows. Viewers also point out certain similarities in the aliens’ physical appearances in Prometheus and the ones in Alien. They are parasites from which elements detach and enter into the bodies of people they want to infect.
This leads to the film’s much awaited sequences where Elizabeth discovers that she is pregnant with something that is not human. This scene leads to chills down viewers’ spines as they shudder to think what lies ahead in the story.
Although Prometheus can’t exclusively be categorized as a pregnancy movie, this scene is an important one in the world of horror. It is also integral to the film’s plot. Overall, the film contains a puzzling premise embedded in breathtaking visuals, terrifying horror, and a set of ideas that challenge you on every aspect of watching.
The Brood (1979)
A psychotherapist Hal Raglan uses rather unconventional methods to treat his patients which include theatrical techniques that can help patients break through the psychological walls that have been put within their minds. Under his care is Frank Carveth’s wife Nola.
Frank prohibits Nola from seeing their daughter Candice after the latter’s visit to her mother where Nola appears to be bruised. However, Dr. Raglan opposes Frank’s decision of prohibiting Nola meeting Candice.
Meanwhile, in their house, Nola’s parents are both attacked by a group of deformed children. This makes him suspect that Dr. Raglan’s methods are more dangerous than one might think.
The Brood is a sleazy exploitation film directed by horror veteran David Cronenberg. At first, it might seem camouflaged by a well-known ensemble cast, but it is nothing short of shocking and outright creepy. It has a classic 70s vibe, which might begin on a light-hearted note, but there remains a lingering creepiness throughout the film.
What makes this movie extremely frightening is that it uses children as the subjects of horror and as the killers. Furthermore, most people don’t know that this film is a very personal reflection of Cronenberg’s own life since he was going through a divorce during the release of this film.
The problems portrayed between Frank and Nola, reflect a lot of the issues Cronenberg and his wife were undergoing at the time. The film also exhibits Cronenberg’s beef with organizations and fear of biological change after watching this film. Overall, The Brood has an undertone of vengeance which may be difficult to identify most of the times. However, viewers will be able to see it once refer to Cronenberg’s personal situation at that time.