Review of Shiva Baby

Shiva Baby (2020)
8/10
Unnerving comedy
5 November 2023
Shiva Baby is equally funny and stressful. The comedy makes some clever observations whilst the film generally keeps escalating until it hits an inevitable breaking point. With a film this consistently stressful, it clocking in at only 78 minutes really works because any longer could've been too much.

Rachel Sennott is amazing, really funny whilst trying to hide the growing sense of unease as things just get worse and when it does get too much, the release is so emotional. Molly Gordon is great as someone who initially enjoys the chaos but begins to show a more caring side as it goes along.

Emma Seligman's direction really knows how to unnerve. Taking cues from horror movies with some jump scares and enough intense close ups to make the film feel claustrophobic. Ariel Marx's score pings and twangs throughout in a way that stops any sense of comfort from settling in.
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