Ya got anymore of those horror flicks about nude nuns coming to terms with their beliefs and some creaky churches?!
Turns out, there’s plenty. Especially when there are two men involved with the convent and one of them, a former soldier, is suffering from serious PTSD.
Now the latest offering from Shepka Productions and Flickering Myth might not be as good as Immaculate but, thanks to a very tense convent on a remote Scottish island and a strange child left in the care for some nuns, The Baby In The Basket comes in a close second . . . or third as it absolutely explodes with emotional disturbances.
Let the nunsploitation begin anew!
The point is that there’s still gas in the tank when it comes to volatile nun shenanigans in the horror market. Sure, this slow burn of a thriller might trade its pacing for B-movie territory as it rushes toward its THE BABY MUST DIE! finale, but the trip is worth taking as some unexpected themes are explored.
Thankfully. Or this film would be a bit of a bore. It’s not, though, and that’s to the credit of directors Nathan Shepka and Andy Crane, working with a script written by Tom Jolliffe (Cinderella's Revenge, Renegades). This sucker keeps both the audience and its characters on edge, never knowing exactly where it’s headed as some strong visuals lead everyone toward an impending sense of dread.
Starring Amber Doig-Thorne (Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey), Michaela Longden (How to Kill Monsters), Elle O'Hara (Cara), Lisa Riesner (No Dogs Allowed) and Nathan Shepka (Dead Before They Wake), and featuring performances from veteran British talent Annabelle Lanyon (Legend), with Maryam d’Abo (The Living Daylights) and Paul Barber (The Full Monty), The Baby In The Basket is a nod to its influences, with Hammer Films being the most obvious.
This is period piece drama by means of moody lighting and heavy costumes and it works to create a great sense of dread and foreboding throughout its running time. It’s another solid example of low budget horror doing everything correctly in order to resonate with its audience.
Because who isn’t down for a whole lot of creepy intentions when there are nuns involved?! That’s right. Everybody is in the mood, especially on a dark and stormy night which involves a cloaked figure and a baby in a basket, left for the sisters of St. Augustine to care for.
As WWII rages on, a baby in a basket mysteriously appears and the nuns agree to take him in. Yet, strange things begin to happen in the convent and Sister Agnes (Doig-Thorne) suspects the new arrival is to blame. Is it the desolation of the convent or is it something else which is responsible for all these happenings?
All bets are off as the spawn of Satan rears its ugly head and the nature of evil revealed. Suddenly, Sister Agnes doesn’t appear to be too crazy after all. But is it too late to make amends?
The Baby in the Basket will be available on Digital and DVD from February 17th.
MPAA Rating:
Runtime:
Director: Andy Crane; Nathan Shepka
Writer: Tom Jolliffe; Nathan Shepka
Cast: Amber Doig-Thorne; Michaela Longden; Elle O'Hara
Genre: Horror | Mystery
Tagline: Evil Isn't Raised. It's Born.
Memorable Movie Quote:
Distributor: Shepka Productions and Flickering Myth
Official Site:
Release Date: February 17th - Digital and DVD
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: February 17th - Digital and DVD
Synopsis: A baby in a basket is left on the steps of an isolated monastery on a Scottish island. The nuns take it in, planning to care for it until a storm passes. Soon though, strange and unexplained events begin to happen at the convent.
