With Birth/Rebirth, first-time director Laura Moss has given new life to the legend of Dr Frankenstein and his monster. Not content with simply rehashing the familiar themes of a scientist with a God complex and a misunderstood monster, Moss shifts our focus to how they apply to both modern science and motherhood. First there is the ethical boundary of how far science can go to either save life or alleviate human suffering. Second is the notion of how a woman's material instinct can be corrupted when given a second chance (and even a third). The movie deviously has the audience weigh what course of action is more horrific: how Casper abuses her own body in the name of science, that she's brought a child back to life or the extreme lengths Celie and Casper will go to keep Lila alive. To her credit, Moss treats the subject matter seriously throughout, to the point where several scenes may be triggering for some. (The movie's gore is limited but convincing and may force you to avert your eyes.) Like 2020's excellent The Invisible Man, Birth/Rebirth makes an old monster relevant by viewing it from a woman's perspective. Recommended.
Detroitcineaste dot net.
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