Nate Hilgartner’s tale of a woman’s struggle to obtain an abortion while suffering from disturbing dreams features a brilliant debut lead performance from Hannah Deale, but the film’s low budget holds it back.
★★★☆☆
Amy (Hannah Deale) works at a store, saving money for college while caring for her mother, Debra (Jennifer Herzog), an unemployed opioid addict. After a one-night stand with Seth (Hayden Frank), Amy discovers she is pregnant. Living in a state where abortion is illegal and lacking the funds to travel elsewhere, she seeks alternative ways to terminate the pregnancy. Meanwhile, Amy is plagued by strange dreams warning her of impending death if she gives birth.
No Choice takes place in an unnamed red state where abortion remains outlawed, Christian roots run deep, and the socio-economic conditions are dire. Nearly every character seems to be down to their last $20, leaving Amy with no one to rely on. The film sharply critiques how pregnant women are treated in such an environment, and how hushed the topic of abortion remains, even in conversations with doctors. Its bleak and depressing climax drives those themes home.
The combination of this poverty-stricken reality with vivid, Lynchian dream sequences is effective. Pregnancy often brings more intense and frequent dreams, especially those fueled by anxiety, so the premise rings true. The movie is at its best when exploring these sequences, which capture the strange, illogical qualities of dreams that only make sense when you wake up. These moments are wonderfully creative and easily the film’s highlight.
Unfortunately, No Choice is weighed down by sloppy editing. Scenes often fail to flow together, and several could have been trimmed to give the climax greater momentum. The on-screen text tracking Amy’s pregnancy progress looks amateurish, with an animation resembling a PowerPoint slide. Details like this, along with sparsely decorated and unconvincing locations, prevent the film from achieving the technical polish it deserves.
That said, Hannah Deale delivers a commanding lead performance. Tasked with a difficult role that requires navigating a wide range of emotions and anxieties, she handles it with the confidence of a seasoned professional, which is remarkable for a screen debut.
The Verdict
Director Nate Hilgartner and actor Hannah Deale showcase real talent that elevates No Choice above its technical shortcomings, resulting in an engaging entry into the pregnancy-horror sub-genre. Both are talents to watch when given a larger budget.
Words by Jordon Searle
A UK release date for No Choice has not yet been announced.
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