Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
No natural phenomenon comes close to being as painful as giving birth to a human, and the grief of losing a child is incomparable. So when journalist Gemina loses her baby in labor, she is inconsolable, her grief intensified by the terror of a stranger lurking in her house, trying to kill her.
Directed and written by Megalyn Echikunwoke, the 2023 short horror film “Weathering” stars Alexis Louder as protagonist Gemina, who wages a lonely battle against heartbreak and a potential intruder who means her harm. The film starts off with visceral scenes in the hospital of Gemina bleeding out as the doctors scramble to save her and the baby. The pregnancy plot was slightly reminiscent of the short story “Zikora” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, which also starts off with a Black woman struggling to give birth. But while Zokora focused on its heroine’s turbulent relationship with her domineering Nigerian mother, Gemina’s problems are more internal.
With a runtime of 20 minutes, “Weathering” is both crisp and tense for large parts. Alexis Louder delivers a compelling performance as the vulnerable Gemina, whose hopes of holding her baby in her arms are shattered, leading her to unravel emotionally. Despite its limited duration, the movie skillfully explores the physical and psychological toll that a stillbirth takes on women.
In addition to Gemina’s personal trauma, her inability to focus on her next journalistic piece adds another layer of complexity to her problems. The film introduces an element of suspense as the audience wonders who is trying to attack her, and it also delves into how those close to her attempt to take advantage of her fragile state of mind. Avid thriller/horror fans would be able to predict the big climactic twist beforehand, it’s a well-used trope for such stories. Despite the predictable climax and an underwhelming generic ending scene, “Weathering” is a good one-time watch for thriller fans.
Rating: 6 on 10. You can stream the short film on Netflix.
Read Next: Kaala Paani Review – Dystopian Getaway
Also Read: The Fall of the House of Usher Review (Audio version below)
