Prevenge

500 Days Of  Film Reviews Horror Comedy, Prevenge, Starring Alice Lowe

Ruth is a pregnant woman on a killing spree. Manipulated by the voice of her misanthropic unborn child, Ruth seeks bloody vengeance for the absence of her baby's father.

Struggling with her conscience, loneliness, and a strange strain of prepartum madness, Ruth must ultimately choose between redemption and destruction at the moment of motherhood.

Many films today feel like carbon copies of movies that we have seen before. As a result, the discovery of something deliciously fresh and innovative is always a joy. And so it is with Alice Lowe’s brilliant directorial debut, Prevenge.

The blackest of black horror comedies, Prevenge (written and starring Lowe who was also pregnant at the time) is both startlingly nasty and wonderfully wry - reminding me of Ben Wheatley’s Sightseers (which of course starred and was co-written by Lowe). 

Ruth is a fabulous character and Lowe plays her to perfection. This really is an impressive performance -  both utterly terrifying and heartbreakingly vulnerable. 

As we follow Ruth on her horrific journey of revenge, we realise that she is being manipulated by her unborn child. On occasion, we hear the voice of her fetus - venting its rage-fueled desire to right a tragic wrong. 

In lesser hands, these interjections might have felt jarring. However, Lowe’s blend of comedy and horror (alongside the fact that these conversations may be taking place in Ruth’s troubled mind) make it work so well.

In addition to the film's revenge plot, Prevenge also explores pregnancy fears and pre-motherhood angst. Many mothers and pregnant woman would sympathise with Ruth’s unease about losing control of her own body (a process she calls a hostile takeover) and her concern about the imminent changes in her life.

However, thankfully, few women would follow Ruth down her murderous path - leaving us free to thoroughly enjoy this wonderfully wicked, deliciously dark film.

Have you seen Prevenge?

If you have, what did you think of Alice Lowe’s debut feature? Let me know in the comments section below or via Twitter or Facebook.