‘You’ll wish you never brought your baby home’
The Lullaby is a 2018 South African psychological horror film directed by Darrell Roodt (Lake Placid: Legacy; Prey; Cryptid; Dracula 3000) from a screenplay by Tarryn-Tanille Prinsloo.
The movie stars Brandon Auret, Reine Swart, Deànré Reiners and Thandi Puren.
Plot:
Returning to her hometown, Eden Rock, and overwhelmed by the birth of her firstborn, nineteen-year-old Chloe van Heerden tries to come to terms with motherhood.
Despite the support from her loving mother, Ruby, Chloe struggles with the demand of being a new mom. The incessant crying of her baby and a growing sense of guilt and paranoia sends Chloe into a dark depression. With a heightened urge to protect her son, Chloe sees a danger in every situation…
Reviews:
“The character of Chloe was just astounding. Reine Swart brought a lot of paranoia as the new mom. At first, she does not have a lot of development, but as the film progress further, we begin to understand her insanity and paranoia. The Lullaby mirrors the supernatural forces and reality beautifully. I absolutely loved the cinematography as well.” Pop Horror
“This crib of horrors has teeth. It’s a dark film that will make you feel icky and those don’t come along often. Some of the cinematography is stunning yet the films editing leaves something to be desired. While Reine Swart’s performance will make you want to take a shower, Brandon Auret never quiet fits the role of Doctor Timothy Reed.” Without Your Head
“The story here is a darkly emotional tale of a young woman struggling with her newfound motherhood, haunted by a woman in black; and while this is hardly a unique plot, the cast and crew of The Lullaby do their script justice and create a film that is enjoyable to watch, if a bit heavy in subject matter. Ultimately, this all creates a film that sits perfectly among its pregnancy/newborn-themed Horror contemporaries…” Cryptic Rock
“It’s very dark and gets creepy at times. The drama is constant and served up with a fresh batch of gore. The horror is real as the demons begin to reveal their faces to Chloe and that is when I felt the voices she was hearing became real. Only then do we see Chloe truly regain control of her life. I think horror lovers will enjoy this film.” Irish Film Critic
“There are many troubling images in the film depicting violence toward an infant. That alone will make the movie too intense for some people, but I appreciated that they rarely pulled any punches. This is a powerful story that hasn’t been watered down. The lighting and colouring of the film seems to reflect Chloe’s dark state of mind. Almost every scene is bleak and drained of colour, which adds to to the foreboding atmosphere.” Indie Horror Online
” …this is a deliberately slow moving shocker that’s heavy on atmosphere – even if it has its fair share of jump scares in all the right places – that really keeps one guessing and on the edge of one’s seat until the very end. Now that’s of course thanks to a very well-structured and well-told script and a strong directorial effort – but also a very solid ensemble cast…” Search My Trash
“For a low-budget indie the special effects and production values are fine. The acting by Swart is convincing. Though a minor film, it has something to say about a young, insecure mother who is losing it and needs professional help. Overall, it’s not a bad film.” Ozus’ World Movie Reviews
“The actors are competent, the running time is just right at 90 minutes, and the plot mechanisms don’t unravel to the point of convolution. Nothing more, nothing less. While it has potential to be something intrinsic to understanding the mythos it draws inspiration from, it instead settles for being a good ol’ horror film.” The Movie Waffler
“While this film does have its fair share of jump scares they don’t stand out as much as the atmosphere does amongst all the drama unfolding on the screen. If you find violence to children hard to watch (and why wouldn’t you) then this film will be a traumatic ride, but those with a strong stomach will find a film that is well acted by all and very creepy.” Horrorscreams Videovault
“Darrell Roodt’s lackluster spook-fest, The Lullaby could have been so much more than a slow-burning creeper, but when all was said and done, it was the absence of scares and moderately-paced movement that acted as the executioner of this one.” Dread Central
Filming locations:
Johannesburg and Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Film Facts:
The film’s original title was Siembamba
Trailer:
