The Fetus — The Fetus (VOD)
The Fetus (2025) is a dark comedy horror written and directed by Joe Lam in his feature debut. It stars Lauren LaVera (Terrifier 2, 3) as Alessa and Bill Moseley (The Devil's Rejects) as her estranged father, Maddox, with Julian Curtis (Are You Afraid of the Dark?) as her boyfriend, Chris. When Alessa discovers she is pregnant with something that shouldn't exist, she has no choice but to turn to her father for help - a grotesque tale of demonic pregnancy blends body horror with pitch-black humour.
The film opens with some dark, unsettling scenes. A man performs a dark ritual: he's drinking alcohol, gripping a Bible-like book, and saying the Lord's Prayer before throwing it into the fire. But when he wakes the next morning, the Bible hasn't burnt, and a hell-like portal opens in the ground. It's an effective way to establish that we're dealing with forces beyond our understanding.
It cuts to Chris and Alessa in bed together, and within minutes, a broken condom sets everything in motion. The very next day, Alessa discovers she's pregnant. (I was scratching my head at this point) Apparently, her body works faster than anyone else's, and her father has made it clear to her when she was a teen that she needs to go to him immediately if she ever falls pregnant. Try not to let the strange way it all happens at first get into your head; it becomes clear later in the film.
When Chris reacts poorly to the news, and Alessa discovers he's been looking at porn sites, things escalate quickly. Within seconds, she experiences physical symptoms and collapses. By the twelve-minute mark, you've got the gist of where this is heading. She demands they go see her dad, and that's where the tone shifts. At the gas station, things start getting quite comical while still staying in line with the horror. As they progress, hints about Maddox and Alessa's relationship emerge, but the film keeps those details cryptic.
Maddox is quite the character. His relationship with Chris produces some funny moments alongside some dark ones. Things took unexpected turns I hadn't anticipated, and I appreciate that. The film doesn't shy away from the grotesque; the effects are impressive, and there's real commitment to the body-horror moments.
There are plot holes that make you sit and think about them when you should be enjoying the ride. Some of the turns in the final act feel unnecessary, though the overall sense of justice at the end is fair. Chris' humour carries through to the very end, which earned smiles. The acting is a little wooden in places, but the story itself is fun, the visuals are solid, and if you can switch your critical brain off, you'll have a good time.
The Fetus is a little different, but it also hits many hallmarks of classic horror and slasher films. This is definitely a Saturday night watch. There's very little to be disappointed about if you go in with the right expectations