First Born (2007)

Director:

Isaac Webb

Writer (WGA):

Isaac Webb (written by)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Laura's expecting. Her husband, Steven's a loving guy but has little time for her. Her mom lives thousands of miles away...

Plot Keywords:

Number In Title

Cast

Elisabeth Shue	...	Laura
Steven Mackintosh	...	Steven
Kathleen Chalfant	...	Mrs. Kasperian
Khandi Alexander	...	Dierdre
Anne Wolf	...	Samantha Lee
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Blair Brown	...	Laura's Mother
Phillip V. Caruso	...	Dr.Caputo, Anesthesiologist
Matt Dickinson	...	Party Guest #1
Mia Dillon	...	Party Guest #2
Julian Gamble	...	Exterminator
Jared Grimes	...	Stock Boy
Marilyn Harris	...	Party Goer #3
Tim Hopper	...	Officer White
Lisby Larson	...	Party Guest #4
David Little	...	Officer Gray
Alyxx Morgen	...	IV Patient
Emma Myles	...	Katelyn
Dennis Parlato	...	Tom
Pippa Pearthree	...	Gale
Cynthia Quinn	...	Elizabeth
Barbara Rhoades	...	Nancy
Henry Strozier	...	Dr. Switzer
Pauline Tully	...	Dr. Carter
Rema D. Webb	...	Birthing Nurse
Brenda Wehle	...	Nurse Brenda

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence/terror.

Runtime:

USA:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Blueprint Films

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: An easily distinguishable reflection of a man's head is visible to the left of Laura, in the section of darkened glass, while she is in her closet selecting a garment to wear.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Steven: [as he comes into the bedroom] Morning sweetheart.
Laura: Good morning.
Steven: Where's Jessica?
Laura: [a beat] Who's Jessica?
Steven: [he laughs, thinking she is joking] Where's the baby?
Laura: [another beat]
[she looks confused]
Laura: What baby?
Steven: [realizes the truth and bolts from the room] Jessica? Jessica? JESSICA?
[...]

Gem of a psychological thriller

First Born is the exploration of the inner world of a woman suffering a postpartum psychosis. This "Yellow Wallpaper" story is definitely not a Lifetime Network sort of film--it's much darker and scarier. It's downright creepy in a very subtle and artful way. After all the gore and explosions of today's thriller genre it's refreshing to see something so subdued and inward while maintaining a such a high level of suspense and desperation.

Elizabeth Shue is a dancer (and yes, she really looks like a dancer) who is stuck in a huge spacious and mostly empty house in the suburbs while her rich, emotionally disengaged husband works in the city and comes home late at night, leaving her with her newborn. Already a bit obsessive-compulsive, she begins to crack up in a serious way. What follows is rendered with impeccable attention to detail and maximum emotional impact. It is a psychological study but at the same time beautifully rendered visually. "First Born" has no didactic ax to grind, no social message, no deus ex machina in the form of social workers or therapists; it's just a fun scary story for intelligent moviegoers.