JinRoz For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

Maidexpl Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

Nicole I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

vansomeren-59641 An awful propaganda film. Not realistic or life moving, the minute they mentioned Pregnancy Crisis Center they gave them selves away. So very sad to to even produce such a degrading and unrealistic movie. Acting was mediocre, direction truly abysmal. Almost seems like an Erwin family propaganda film. Offensive, unreal a truly Focus on the family propaganda film. Would not recommend this film to anyone, if I could I would rate it a minus 10. Family films are one thing but blatant propaganda films produced by the far right evangelical designed to forward the agenda who disrespect women and the law. Giving this a 5 star rating on Netflix makes me want to drop my Netfilx account. Shame on Netflix

Marcin Kukuczka Facing so much violence and injustice, cinema is rightly considered a medium that should promote other values, those ones that may really occur an oasis of a more beautiful world, at least a world of more beautiful and appealing content. Yet, when we face such pro-life movies like BELLA or October BABY co-directed by siblings Jon and Andrew Erwin who openly admitted to displaying traumatic aspect of abortion, we usually feel at odds. Undeniably, such values as beauty of life, forgiveness, understanding, dignity are likely to find their appeal among vast majority of audiences. Deep down, many people feel it. Yet, they have not stood a test of time in cinema, unfortunately. Is it possible to handle these themes in a sufficiently captivating way? May simplicity occur to flee simplifications? Gary Goldstein rightly observes that the Erwins' production, as "faith-based anti-abortion drama" is "a film whose poignancy is hard to deny." Yes, at its core, the pro-life message seems to arise in its fullness and, as Jackie K Cooper points out, "it makes its point" doing it "through the story." Its simplicity makes it fragile and authentic along with the emotional resonance of the story and the convincing performance by the leading star, a newcomer Rachel Hendrix. Yet, flaws within the frames of the plot and some naive points of storytelling may lead some eminent critics perceive such movies as "amateurish" and "ungainly" (Roger Ebert). Indeed, the themes of forgiveness and other Christian values are far richer and complex as to be packed within 100 minutes and delivered convincingly enough. Therefore, such movies usually reach their spiritual crescendos in the last 10 minutes when reconciliation is victorious, everyone forgives everyone and all people smile of profound joy. How fake and unnatural! Sometimes, you don't know what to cry at and what to laugh at! However, there seems to be something more that makes the movie enjoyable though it truly may "lack sufficient entertainment value to make its message go down more palantly" (Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter)The story of Hannah (Rachel Hendrix), born as a result of a failed-term abortion which her twin brother Jonathan did not survive, captures our attention thanks to her three phases: discovering, struggling and forgiving. The opening shot and her fainting on stage appears to hit the note for the emotional capacity. Ms Hendrix is beautiful enough to make Hannah an interesting character from the start, unknown enough to make Hannah an authentic character and skillful enough to deliver some unforgettable lines of words and emotions. For a newcomer, the actress plays the role with surprising ease making it all an authentic looking drama. While her ways lead to forgiveness, she saves her scenes from unnecessary sentiments and flees any hints of imposed spirituality. She beautifully inspires emotions while spirituality goes from within. That is good, especially because the films of that sort should not be preachy but innately moving. Furthermore, she reduces the number of 'monologues' that usually occur fatal to such movies. The best supporting performances include Jason Burkey as her friend (turning into lover) Jason, John Schneider as her adoptive father and Jasmine Guy as a nurse who talks about her trauma of abortion's hell. Yes, Ms Guy...something more about her:Although she is supplied with the longest monologue of the movie, she is actually most appreciated by the critics. Jackie K Cooper perceives her role as provided with "emotion, warmth and empathy" and Roger Ebert, who lacks enthusiasm about this film, states, after all, that "Jasmine Guy's monologue here is so well performed and effective that we almost forgive it for being (...) a contrivance." Some background characters, including Bmac (Chris Sligh), the humor incarnate in the trip sequence do not leave a lasting impression and make the film "jagged in parts" (Jackie K Cooper). A nice cure to that comes the priest (Rodney Clark) who, by quoting saint Paul, parallels to the story's moral conclusion. Where does his truth reside? A nice little scene in church which transcends forgiveness and transforms it from definition into action, from words into deeds.The music score is packed with, what Roger Ebert calls, "middle-of-the-road pop-rock" and it is difficult not to agree with this opinion. Whatever appeal it might have had in its intentions, perhaps to address young audience or referring directly to the film's message and imposing certain feelings on us, it is surely unhelpful and destructing. But that is a case of watching the film and listening to the songs. Nevertheless, when you solely listen to the soundtrack, the experience appears to be totally different and the result is not that bad. So, what it suffers is the lack of music-story collaboration. These are two separate realities in case of October BABY.All in all, not beautiful in the true sense of the word but in its way as a pro-life whisper among too loud roars of death. A fresh movie, no masterpiece, no intense, in-depth psychological case study of abortion trauma but...that is not, after all, what we want of such films. It's easier for majority to feel its heart expressed in simple and meaningful lines of the finale, something that each child saved from the heartless act of abortion may say to his/her parents having come of age: "thank you just for wanting me." There lies the heart of Hannah's story, the heart of implicit motto "every life is beautiful." Can you, viewer, hear such a voice?

doug_park2001 Plot & Conflict: Despite its digressions, "too easies," and other annoyances, this film certainly kept me engrossed, which is the main reason why I give it as high a rating as I do. Hannah's search for her real mother provides excellent tension. There are some good and fairly well-earned surprises too.Cinematography & Settings: Although the stage directions are a bit stilted, a little too picture-perfect, the camera work is professionally done, with good backdrops and bits of scenery.Characterization, acting, & script: Many highs and lows. Rachel Hendrix's performance is a bit lifeless, but John Schneider and Jennifer Price as her foster parents are pretty real, lame dialogue notwithstanding. Foster Dad Jacob's revelation to Hannah (now 19) at the beginning --". . .you were born premature because you are the survivor of a failed abortion"--seems horribly unrealistically blunt and made simply for the purpose of getting the conflict out in the open, but it later coincides with the character of a tough, rather gauche, but ultimately compassionate Baptist doctor. October BABY includes one of Movieland's most totally ludicrous stereotypes ever in the form of "BMAC" the 60s throwback, apparently present simply for comic relief, but it's NOT funny! Some excellent supporting actors, particularly Rodney Clark as the priest.Mood & atmosphere: The most problematical aspect of October BABY. Some reviewers say it made them cry, and while I respect the fact that many people enjoy tear-jerkers, October BABY is no TERMS of ENDEARMENT. The constant soap operatic piano scores and faint schmaltzy theme songs are nothing but distracting, and, since the film also apparently wants to be funny in places, it's often hard to sense how to take certain things. The transitions between light and heavy-hearted are pretty poor.Themes: All the stuff about forgiveness comes through pretty well. Many have complained about the embedded anti-abortion agenda, but that didn't really bother me, and I wouldn't have even noticed it had I not read some reviews before watching October BABY. I chose to ignore the Special Features and Director's Commentary, where a lot of the agenda probably comes out. Problems usually arise when people make films that are intended to carry an underlying moral/religious message, even without being too blatant about it, but viewing this film as a simple story for its own sake, I didn't feel manipulated or preached to.

christinecarroll122 This is, literally, one of the worst movies I've ever seen - and I've seen Howard the Duck and Leonard Part 6...and compared to this, those movies were Oscar contenders. I wanted to abort MYSELF about 20 minutes in, because I saw where this film was going. But I stuck with it.Where do I start? The anti-choice/"pro-life" propaganda? The AWFUL Christian rock soundtrack that pervades the entire film? The complete and utter suspension of disbelief (or brainwashing) required to buy even the slightest detail in this film?The main problem with movies made by Christian people is that they structure them around the way the feel life SHOULD BE, rather than how it actually is. This movie is infused with the propriety of adults, when it's supposed to be about KIDS - Christian or not. A bunch of broke college kids on a road trip. Despite the fact that they embark on said road trip in a VW camper with the "untouchable love interest/good Christian boy's" cousin, who looks like the biggest stoner outside of Dazed and Confused...yet no sex, no smoking, no drinking, not even so much as a cigarette, because good Christian kids don't do those things...right. They talk about vegetarianism and baby turtles instead.And despite being "broke college kids", they buy multiple hotel rooms, because it's just too taboo for them to share a room together?! Really? Jesus doesn't want boys and girls to sleep together, even platonically?! That's not proper? I guess I'm going to hell then. Not to mention that the girlfriend of the love interest/good Christian boy is one dimensional and pure freaking evil! Yet despite his holiness, he chose her,over the oh so holy, mild mannered heroine of this tale. But of COURSE they don't have sex! She has to share a room with the leading lady with epilepsy, and MOCKS her for it! How Christian!But what really, really, REALLY bothered me about this film were the fallacies imparted concerning abortion. So I'm supposed to believe that this "doctor" agreed to perform an abortion on someone 24 weeks pregnant (TWICE the legal limit of 12 weeks), didn't notice the mother was having twins despite the exams and ultrasounds required before the procedure, and when attempting to abort the one baby he thought there was, only got an ARM?! ONE arm?! And this "doctor" then said "Ho-hum, this abortion's done!" NEVER HAPPEN. Lies and Christian, pro-life propaganda. BS.Though to back this up, the nurse (Roxy from Dead Like Me, an AWESOME show :() says that kind of thing happened ALL THE TIME with this "doctor". Also lies. Despicable, misleading, horrible lies, from a sect of people who give a crap UNTIL a baby is born - and then say "why'd you have a baby you couldn't afford?" when a woman requests public assistance. But I digress...What I found most detestable was the casting of an actress who had actually undergone an abortion to play leading lady's bio mother. An actress turned born again Christian, should I say. This, to me, was the most horrible, victimizing, cherry-on-top-of the right wing sundae that was this movie. Because I could feel her emotion, her regret, her guilt. These film-makers used this woman in the worst way a woman can be used, and true, she allowed it. But I feel for her. I don't begrudge her whatever comfort this movie gave her. But to me, Christians live in a world of "do as I say, not as I do." I would have rather seen this woman sympathize with girls in the same position as she was than take part in a movie that vilifies them.All this being said, I feel that, minus the propaganda, this COULD have been an awesome movie. It's a great concept, that I could have gotten behind, had it been treated with some dignity and truth. But Christian movie makers tend to Disney-fy everything to the extent where it's no longer believable. Your kids make mistakes, just like the rest of the us. You don't need to set an example. We sure aren't looking to you for one.