Pro-Life (2006)

Sometimes you can watch the work of a particular director and say to yourself that “that was amazing” while other times you are left scratching your head wondering why they were involved with such a horrible production. The episode of “Masters of Horror” titled “Pro-Life” is such an example of a horrible production. This episode was directed by John Carpenter and stars Ron Perlman; both are artists who had been connected to some sup-bar films. “Pro-life” comes across as too preachy without believing in what its saying, the actors are too generic, and the storyline itself is ridiculous. Perlman does a great performance with the time he’s on screen but other than that, this episode is a waste of time.

Two doctors are on their way to work when they see a teenage girl run out of a forest and into the street. They stop after nearly hitting her and find out that she’s in danger. They take her to their place of employment which happens to be an abortion clinic. While they are interviewing her after she demands that they give her an abortion (how convenient!) they learn that she’s the daughter of a very vocal and anger pro-life activist named Dwayne (Pearlman). He wants her daughter back or otherwise he and his three sons will take her by force but the doctors believe that he is the father of her unborn child. In reality, she was raped by a demon and that demon begins telling Dwayne what to do. Dwayne attacks the clinic and sends his sons into harm’s way because he thinks that God is telling him to do this. The ending a violent, messy, and awkward and not worth the buildup or the 55 minutes leading up to it.