I haven't seen the original movie on which this 2008 version is based, so this review is solely based on having seen the 2008 version only.
First of all, I must say that I found the story to be laughable at best. Come on, an infant killing animals and full-grown people? It was just so far out there and it was nowhere near making any sense in a logical way at all. And that really brought down the movie a couple of notches for me, because it was so hard to buy into the storyline.
That being said, then on the other hand, the movie was quite nicely shot and well put together. So there is a great sense of production value to weigh up for the lousy storyline.
And the performances were also helping to carry the movie along, as Bijou Phillips (playing Lenore) and James Murray (playing Frank) were doing good jobs with their characters and helping to bring them to life on the screen.
Sadly, though, that wasn't enough to make the movie stay afloat. For a horror movie, there was a horrible lack of frights, scary moments or spooky elements. It was basically just a couple of hints here and there as to the killing and the mayhem, through the usage of visual techniques with the camera and sound effects. You didn't really get to see anything to implicate that it was actually Daniel who was doing it. I am sure that would have worked back in 1974 during the original movie, but not in 2008.
So despite it being a nicely shot movie, the storyline really killed the experience for me, and I found the movie to be less than average. Personally, I just found the storyline about an infant that kills too laughable and implausible.
I am sure that if you are a fan of either Bijou Phillips or James Murray then you might actually get some worth out of this movie. But if you are watching it with the intent of watching a good horror movie, like I did, you are perhaps better off with something else.
I am giving "It's Alive" a 4/10 rating because of the acting and the way the movie was shot and edited. The storyline itself is the anchor that is causing this movie to drown.
It's Alive
2009
Action / Horror / Sci-Fi
It's Alive
2009
Action / Horror / Sci-Fi
Keywords: remakemonsterbabyhomicidal baby
Plot summary
Pregnant college student Lenore Harker leaves college before the end of the semester to move to an isolated house with her boyfriend Frank. When Lenore is ready to deliver the baby, they drive to the hospital. In the surgery room, the two doctors and the two nurses are found slaughtered and Lenore and the baby are found covered of blood. When Lenore is released, the family returns to Frank's house.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
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An killer infant? Literally? Surely this was a joke?...
Out there
The premise of the movie is really out there. Of course it's supposed to be over the top and even the explanation you get somewhere in the movie, why this is all happening is so crazy, that you can't help yourself but laugh about it.
Having said that, the sole and main reason, you are going to watch this, is the "bloody mess" it delivers (no pun intended). And it delivers on that premise, so if you are splatter fan, than you can pretty much enjoy this. Not that much going on in the acting category and or the story department. Based on a Cohen movie (which I haven't seen),it's pretty much everything you can expect from it.
It's abysmal, more like.
This remake of Larry Cohen's cult '70s horror is utterly awful from start to finish, director Josef Rusnak unable to make the (admittedly silly) premise of a killer baby convincing or scary in any way. Every scene will have you squirming in your seat, not out of fear, but out of sheer embarrassment for the actors who signed up for this terrible film.
Bijou Phillips plays grad student Lenore Harker, who drops out of school after the traumatic birth of her son Daniel (the entire medical team being slaughtered while performing a C-section). Despite mounting evidence pointing towards Daniel as the culprit, Lenore acts as though nothing is wrong, while architect father Frank (James Murray) remains oblivious throughout. Various people meet messy fates at the claws and jaws of the vicious mite, with some dreadful CGI effects and lots of blood, but the concept and execution is so weak that it's impossible to care.
The best thing that happens in the whole film is the burning to the ground of the really ugly house that is home to the main characters: it's such an eyesore that it's hard to believe that an architect would want to live there.