Good afternoon, House of Madness pondering parents:
Have you ever pined for something that you really wanted, only to feel regret and shame upon receiving it? All week long you survive off of kale and quinoa, starving your taste buds into thinking they're actually food, but looking ahead to that huge bucket of KFC you're going to treat yourself to on cheat day keeps you motivated. However, once cheat day arrives, you gorge yourself on so much chicken that you end up suffering all night with the meat shits, leaving yourself questioning whether it was all worth it after all. No? Ok, what about after years of contemplating, you finally decide to buy a house in the country to get away from it all, but after spending less than a week in your new dwelling, you realize you're more of a city person after all, and all of these bugs can go fuck themselves? Well, in this film, someone definitely didn't think things through, and would like a do-over if someone or something could help her along with that.
Valeria (Natalia Solian) and her husband Raul (Alfonso Dosal) live a happy life, fully committed to one another and define the term 'love-birds' to the fullest. Their journey has brought them to the point where they want to bring another person into the world, and are starving to be parents to complete their happy family. After we witness an awkward sex scene that would have left the cast and crew of "Brokeback Mountain" wanting to change the subject, we next learn that Val is pregnant, and their dreams have come true.
As the pregnancy blossoms, Val realizes she has some sacrifices to make in order to appease her new baby, and ensure a safe and stable entry into the world. Val has to quit smoking, give up her passion of wood-working and all the harsh chemicals that come with it, and the whole morning sickness thing is getting old. Not only this, but she's also dealing with people in her family that question whether she's fit to be a mother, because of choices and actions in Val's past. Add horrific visions of a bone snapping entity that seems to be stalking her at every turn, and what once felt like a blessing is beginning to feel like a curse.
As the day of delivery inches closer, Val tries desperately to rid herself of the demon that's haunting her, and after trying simpler methods, finally turns to a coven of witches to help rid her of her infestation. Question is, are the demons chasing Val demons of her past, or is she struggling to come to grips with a track record of poor decision making, while actually being chased by her own guilt and regret? One thing is for sure, a baby lies in wait inside her womb, and it's up to Val to decide whether she's protecting the baby from a hideous entity, or simply herself.
Madness Meter: 6/10
NB
