BirthMovie Reviews

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So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 50 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
17 not for kids
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 88
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    An effective thriller precisely because it is true to the way sophisticated people might behave in this situation. Its characters are not movie creatures, gullible, emotional and quickly moved to tears. They're realists, rich, a little jaded. Read full review

  • 80
    Variety | David Rooney

    While it veers heavily toward pretentiousness, this striking metaphysical mystery is intensely compelling, conjuring a mood between European high-arthouse and the unsettling psychological horror of "Rosemary's Baby." Read full review

  • 80
    Los Angeles Times | Kenneth Turan

    What the intelligently spooky Birth does best is disturb us. Read full review

  • 80
    The New York Times | Dana Stevens

    Without Ms. Kidman's brilliantly nuanced performance, Birth might feel arch, chilly and a little sadistic, but she gives herself so completely to the role that the film becomes both spellbinding and heartbreaking, a delicate chamber piece with the large, troubled heart of an opera. Read full review

  • 75
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    The best of what's onscreen is a mesmerizing mind-teaser. Read full review

  • 75
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    Birth presents an intriguing premise about death and the possibility of rebirth in an elegant, melancholy and deliberate fashion. Read full review

  • 50
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    Begins like a penetrating exploration of love, grief and suffering and ends looking like a highbrow version of "Bride of Chucky." Read full review

  • 42
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    When Kidman slithers into a bathtub with her young ''husband,'' the scene, in its soft-pedaled way, is the definition of exploitation: It appears to have been cooked up for no other purpose than to conjure creepy child-porn overtones. Read full review

  • 30
    Washington Post |

    For all its art-house posturing, for all its exploration of the taboo topic, Birth is anything but good. Read full review

  • 30
    The Hollywood Reporter |

    A paranormal mystery without a spine. It has no suspense because it has no belief in itself. Read full review

View more reviews for Birth on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says not for kids What were they thinking?
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this movie includes sexual references, including adultery, and an explicit (and completely gratuitous) sexual situation as well as situations that come close to sexual abuse of a minor. A young boy takes a bath with an adult woman and later they kiss. Characters drink and smoke and use some strong language. The only minority cast member plays a somewhat stereotyped family retainer. The themes may be very disturbing to some audience members.
  • Families can talk about their own views on life after death. What would they like to hear from those they have lost? What should we say now to those who are still here?
The good stuff
  • rolemodels true0 Positive role models: The only minority cast member plays a somewhat stereotyped family retainer.
What to watch for
  • violence false0 Violence: Creepy and tense atmosphere, some shoving.
  • sex false5 Sex: Explicit sexual situation, references, inappropriate relationship with child.
  • language false3 Language: Some strong language.
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Not an issue
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Drinking and smoking.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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