‘You’ll wish you never brought your baby home’
The Lullaby is a 2018 psychological horror film about a postpartum mother who experiences paranoia, hallucinations about a threat to her baby. Her mental state deteriorates as she tries to protect her child, straining relationships. Is she truly in danger or suffering new mother psychosis.
The movie was directed by Darrell Roodt (Lake Placid: Legacy; Prey; Cryptid; Dracula 3000) from a screenplay by Tarryn-Tanille Prinsloo.
The production stars Brandon Auret, Reine Swart, Deànré Reiners and Thandi Puren.
Plot [includes spoilers]:
Nineteen-year-old Chloe van Heerden returns to her hometown after giving birth to her first child, a baby boy named Liam. She hopes to settle into family life with the support of her mother, Ruby, but motherhood proves far more difficult than she anticipated.
Liam cries incessantly, leaving Chloe exhausted and overwhelmed. She struggles with feelings of inadequacy, guilt and anxiety, while Ruby’s critical attitude makes her feel increasingly incapable of looking after her son.
Concerned about Chloe’s condition, the family consults Dr Timothy Reed, a psychologist who initially attributes her symptoms to the baby blues. However, Chloe’s mental state continues to deteriorate, and her fears become more disturbing.
She begins hearing strange voices and the haunting melody of a lullaby from her childhood. She also glimpses a mysterious, sinister figure near her baby. Convinced that an evil presence is threatening Liam, Chloe becomes increasingly obsessed with protecting him.
Her friends and family struggle to understand what is happening. As Chloe grows more isolated, the people around her begin to question whether she can trust her own perceptions. Her childhood friend Emile Hess offers her emotional comfort, but events continue to spiral out of control.
Eventually, Chloe’s fear reaches breaking point. The distinction between psychological illness and supernatural danger becomes increasingly difficult to determine, and the people closest to her may not be able to protect either her or her child.
The film builds towards a disturbing confrontation in which Chloe must face the threat surrounding her baby and the terrifying possibility that her suffering has made her vulnerable to something genuinely evil.
Filming locations:
Johannesburg and Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Film Facts:
The film’s original title was Siembamba
Notes:
Not to be confused with Lullaby (2022), directed by John R. Leonetti.
Trailer:
Free online on YouTube:
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