Nasty Baby (2015)
7/10
Urban drama
1 January 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Nasty Baby, Sebastian Silva's an independent movie presents contemporary urban drama. This film undertakes a story of homosexual partners Freddy and Mo and their female friend Polly. This trio tries to conceive a child. For men, this is a need and a disturbance in one. Freddy, an artist, to become a father creates a piece of art. A multimedia performance is imitating his and others behavior as newborns – they cry, play in front of the camera. During the process of conceiving, Freddy learns that his donation isn't as good as he, though. Mo must be a biological father, but he doubts the idea of having a child. Polly is consistent and eager to be a mother, she pushes forward the prenatal test and persuades the man for the action. The more to the story unravels the more tensions rises. Not just between trio but in Silva's creative work as well. This conflict resonates in the neighborhood. Bishop, a mentally troubled neighbor, invades the space of the trio and pushes their boundaries to the edge.

Silva starts his story using close-ups to revoke the parochialism of emotions between the trio. We see from the beginning the inner world of friendship, their dynamics, that is very progressive yet holds an unspoken truth. Mo and Freddy seem to be an average couple of men in their 30 ties. Understanding, communicative, loving. They share an apartment in Brooklyn. Mo is secretive, more aloof; he isn't sure if he wants a child. On the other hand, Freddy is an energetic, emotional man, more of a rover. His friendship with Polly is deep and unusual. From the first scenes, Polly seems determined and controlling. For her having a baby is natural and unquestionable. You might have the feeling that they are a couple, the drive towards each other is intense. The closeness is disturbing, personal boundaries are invisible and needs a compliment. The relation questions the urge to procreate with Mo, not willing to have a child with Polly. There is a scene; that best portrays the relationships. After a family dinner, the friends spontaneously decided to procreate a child. Freddy masturbates Mo and Polly waits on a bed, ovulating with legs over her head ready to take the donation.

Freddy's inability to create a piece of art that is appreciated and his procreation potential is questionable. An art gallery owner dismiss the piece, and his life couldn't go worse, but it does. The tension between characters slowly rises and spreads to the neighborhood. The Bishop, a psychologically troubled man with his action, annoys the community. He regularly invades the space of the trio, at night he stocks them, in a day he makes noise on the street. The more story unravels the hyped his instability become. It bothers the neighbors especially the homosexual couple. His consequence and invasion take frustrated Freddy to the edge. His instability denudes the real face of the Brooklyn's trio. The tension rises and the police intervene making a proper movie climax that contradict the intentions of the charters. Puts them in a serious life threatening situation to show that one need the life create a life comes with a contempt of the others.

In Silva's film core of attention is paid to the characters rather than production design or insane stunts. Nasty Baby is an intimate drama, a story of a group that is complicated and diversified. This movie is a progressive though questioning the parenthood urge and devaluate life. Silva encircles the story by grotesque thought provoking scenes, characters poor behavior to the situations. He confronts the point of view characters with their ability. Weirdness and the feeling that something off comes out through a movie. The events go smoothly supported by the actors. Kristin Wiig after watching her in numerous comedies where her workshop is limited, here she presents a more serious approach to the character, and her actors skills flourish. All performances in the film at a good level. Silva's and Mo presentation is well balanced, yet they have an adversarial approach. Dialogs are well written and up to a point. Silva's camera work observes silently and quietly the events. There is ease of the Silva's style. He uses close-ups and firm plans a lot of natural setting and natural pace of the film. Nasty Baby is a substantial artistic and contemporary drama that through a challenge to the viewer.

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