Overlook 2023 Film Festival – Lately, there have been a wave of horror movies dealing with pregnancy and motherhood, and considering recent headlines, that’s unlikely to stop anytime soon. Writer/director Alexis Jacknow‘s Clock is a nail-biting and relentless feature about a woman who wants to “fix” her biological clock and succumbs to pressure to have a child before she hits 40. This is a film that pulls no punches and goes to some surprising and dark places.

On the eve of her 39th birthday, Ella (Dianna Agron) caves to pressure from family and friends to have a child. The mention of kids comes from nearly every facet of Ella’s life. She can’t socialize with friends without being reminded that one of them is pregnant, or without facing a bombardment of questions about her own plans to have or not have children. Even her dad, played by Saul Rubinek, continually raises the subject. Initially, Ella expresses no desire to have children and harbors serious anxieties about motherhood and everything that could go wrong during a pregnancy. She’s also concerned that it’s something her husband Adrian (Jay Ali) desires, even if he doesn’t frequently mention it. Though Ella initially resists the pressure to have kids and instead puts her career first, she eventually surrenders and visits a clinic that’s supposed to help women “fix” their biological clocks. The clinic is run by Dr. Elizabeth Simmons (Melora Hardin). It’s there where Ella takes pills and undergoes various one-on-one sessions with Dr. Simmons. Fans of The Office know that Hardin can play a cold and calculating character with dashes of humanity (Jan), and that’s very true here.

There are several intense and surprising moments in Clock, including more than one body horror sequence that makes pregnancy seem downright horrifying. These moments aren’t for anyone with a weak stomach. However, some of the most uncomfortable moments come when Ella is with her friends, or when her father brings up children, or when she has these sessions with Dr. Simmons in a sterile setting. As much as Ella wants to escape and avoid motherhood, there are too many forces at work in her day-to-day life. People just can’t understand why she’d pick a career over motherhood. When she does undergo Dr. Simmons’ treatment, something breaks inside of her, to the point she starts eating raw eggs and frequently feels disoriented. This movie doesn’t hold back in the second half when it comes to plenty of transgressive moments. Nothing here feels predictable, making you wonder just how far the film will go.

There’s another storyline at work here regarding Ella, her Jewish heritage, and her grandmother, who nearly died during the Holocaust and returns as a looming, tall woman that frequently haunts Ella. While this storyline is intriguing, it’s not quite given the attention it deserves to add another layer to an already strong film.

Overall, Agron delivers a strong and compelling performance, and Clock delivers plenty of unnerving moments. By the second half, this feature edges unexpected and jolting territory. There’s absolutely nothing flattering about motherhood portrayed in this film. In fact, Clock becomes a woman’s full-blown nightmare.

The feature will stream on Hulu at the end of April, following its premiere at the Overlook Film Festival.

7 Out of 10