Review - October Baby

Survival, Forgiveness and Faith

Abortion, it’s a topic that may turn some of you from this review at the very sight of the word. Hollywood hasn’t dealt with the aftermath of surviving an abortion in the way that October Babydoes and that doesn’t surprise.

October Baby - In Theaters 3/23/12

Hannah (Rachel Hendrix) is making her big starring debut at college when she passes out in front of a stunned audience. Tests after tests leaves the doctors stumped, until it’s all tied together with her father’s reveling of some journal entries. Hannah doesn’t understand a lot about her past. Her mom and dad never told her she was severely premature (at 24 weeks), was adopted, and was still alive after a botched abortion by her birth mother.

One of those topics would be a lot for anyone to take, but all three is devastating. Now Hannah wants to know, why was she not wanted? What did her birth mother have against her? And what was her past?

The journey is just beginning for this brave college student, but is she ready for the answers that the questions might deliver?

A movie rooted in faith, never felt preachy. Where a film like the popular “Courageous” leaned on its faith components at every turn, October Baby lets the characters find their own way. Sometimes that path takes them on a physical journey, while other moments require spiritual guidance.

Rachel Hendrix is needed to make this film work and she shines as the conflicted Hannah that is caught in the middle. The only parents she has known love her, but kept this crucial information from her. She displays the hurt and confusion in a real and understandable way.

Jason Burkey is the boy who has always looked out for Hannah. He is helping her to cope with the knowledge that she has just been exposed to and being a friend to her in this time of need. The problem with this character is there is not enough background to determine why he is behaving this way. I felt his character was underwritten and unexplained.

At times, the film feels more like a Lifetime Movie than a feature film, but it delivers a solid message regardless of that feel. Despite your troubles, despite your situation, you are special and can accomplish anything. It exposes the fact that parents need to be more forthright with their kids and that all decisions have consequences.

Hendrix shows us the survivor that needs to forgive to grow her character’s faith. God has forgiven us, can we also forgive?

B- / C+

October Baby

Provident Films / Samuel Goldwyn Films

Director: Andrew Erwin, Jon Erwin

Cast: Rachel Hendrix, Jason Burkey, John Schneider

Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic material.

Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes