Nightborn film review: Troll baby horror is a real slog

Nightborn, directed by Hanna Bergholm, is a British-Finnish horror film that delves into the dark and disturbing aspects of motherhood, particularly postnatal depression and psychosis. The movie follows young couple Saga and Jon, who move from England to a dilapidated house in Finland. As Saga becomes pregnant, the film's atmosphere becomes increasingly unsettling, with themes of decay and mental instability permeating the story.

The majority of Nightborn focuses on Saga's psychological deterioration, which is both harrowing and confusing. Her relationship with her newborn, a rather hairy and disturbing child, further complicates her mental state. The baby's cries and physical characteristics become increasingly unsettling, leading Saga to question its sanity and origin.

Hanna Bergholm's performance is commendable, as she fully immerses herself in her character's distress, effectively conveying the horror of her situation. However, Rupert Grint's portrayal of Jon is less memorable, remaining relatively unchanged throughout the film. While the movie explores some themes similar to Bergholm's previous work, Hatching, it does not quite achieve the same level of engagement or impact.

There are moments of folk horror, particularly in the depiction of the baby and the surrounding trees, but these are not enough to carry the film. The narrative struggles to maintain a consistent focus, often shifting between claustrophobic paranoia and overly sentimental scenes involving Saga's parents. Ultimately, Nightborn fails to fully commit to its premise, resulting in a slow and largely unengaging horror experience.