A LITTLE NOD OF THANKS FOR EVERY UNEXPECTED THING

INCLUDING THE FEMME-FORWARD FRANKENSTEINIAN CONUNDRUM OF LAURA MOSS’S “BIRTH/REBIRTH”

It probably shouldn’t surprise you that I’m a big gratitude fan. Which is to say, one of those tiresome types. The kind who chirps, “You know, we should be thankful EVERY day!” And isn’t even kidding about it.

Cuz it’s true. I actually AM grateful every day. Grateful for my family. Grateful for my friends. Grateful for all of the usual suspects. Grateful for my relatively pretty good health. Grateful I can still afford a roof over my head. Grateful for my last remaining teeth. Grateful for what remains of our democracy, and quite possibly even the chance to keep it. (Insert anti-authoritarian thankfulness here!)

Incredibly grateful for every opportunity I get to carve the kind of life I truly hoped to live. Grateful for art. Grateful to God. Grateful for sun and moon and stars and food and drink and weed. YOU NAME IT!

But just because I’m completely insufferable shouldn’t imply that you have to be, too. Not everyone is required to be all perky. There’s nothing more disgusting than compulsory cheer. And maybe the Toxic Positivity Police can force you to fake genuflection. But they can’t make you mean it. 

Either you do, or you don’t.

Which brings me to my gratitude for fucked-up horror movies. Both the fact that they exist, and that people continue to make ‘em. Like, f’rinstance, an amazing new film by my brilliant compatriot Laura Moss.

 It’s called BIRTH/REBIRTH, and it’s a Shudder Original, about a pretty substantially batshit mad scientist and the heartbroken mom whose freshly-deceased daughter she attempts to bring back from the dead. Which is to say, it’s a femme-forward Frankensteinian character study and moral conundrum, starring Marin Ireland as the deadly doc, and Judy Reyes from SCRUBS back in her hospital duds, with decidedly less light-hearted and wacky results. 

birth/rebirth Trailer #1 (2023)

It’s a slow burn, yes. But super-smart, forensically unflinching, and impeccably done, with riveting performances by all involved. Laura’s script (with frequent collaborator Brendan J. O’Brien) feels both so emotionally and scientifically grounded that I believed every tragic twist and turn. And like the best puzzle boxes, it’ll keep you guessing even well past the end.

I’m incredibly proud of Laura, her cast and crew, and producer Mali Elfman for making this mad dream come true. And like I said, incredibly thankful that a place like Shudder exists to make such things possible.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!!!