It is too soon to say nunsploitation is making a comeback, but there has been more religious horror as of late. The Baby in the Basket takes place at a Scottish convent during World War II. On a stormy night, the nuns there find someone has left a newborn on their steps. Soon after they bring it in to care for it, strange things begin to happen.
Despite the title, it takes a while for any babies or baskets to make an appearance. The first act is more about introducing the setting and characters the plot will revolve around. After an out of place cold open, The Baby in the Basket settles in. It quickly becomes apparent that this is going to be more character driven than most nun horror movies. While the sisters follow the familiar tropes ranging from very devout to questioning their faith, the plot never feels derivative.
It is quite the trick considering The Baby in the Basket often feels like a homage to the similar movies from the 1970s. The lighting and dark shadows give it the feel of a gothic horror. It does a good job of setting the tone. This becomes more important as the story begins to spiral out of control. The writing has a tendency to not fully explain what is going on. As simple as the story is, it can sometimes get confusing. It may be the evil presence that is causing people to act out of character, but it often feels sloppy.
While it is distracting, the willingness of director Nathan Shepka to lean into the wackiness of the story will keep audiences engaged. The Baby in the Basket plays it straight, but it never takes itself too seriously. There are the deeper questions that are to be expected in a story like this, but this is a film that eventually becomes all about violence, gore, and, to a lesser extent, sex. Things do get a little too silly in the climax, but it is an all around acceptable watch.
The Baby in the Basket now available on digital platforms.
