Regardless of whichever side of the abortion fence you may stand on one thing is for sure, if you have decided to have a stance chances are you will defend that stance till your dying breath. Always a hot troubled topic the abortion issue has long been a lightning rod for controversy and who better to take on the subject matter then John Carpenter.
Masters of Horror is fast becoming the type of show in which opinion and political beliefs can be woven into the genre with a deft hand and intelligent writing. Only one episode last year, Joe Dante’s Homecoming, dared venture into that territory and it was by far the best episode of the season. This year John Carpenter brings us Pro-Life.
SPOILERS AHEAD - ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!!
Pro-Life tells the tale of an abortion clinic under siege by not only a real life monster but one from hell as well. We are quickly ushered into the lives of the main characters as a pair of doctors from the clinic almost hit a young women in their car on their way back from a weekend jaunt. The lady just kind of runs out of the woods and damn near ends up under the wheels of the car. They load the dazed and confused woman into their car and head on into the clinic where they plan on giving her a once over to make sure they haven’t hurt her any.
The clinic is locked down like a prison and we quickly learn why. It seems that one of the locals has a serious pro life stance and has taken to getting a little crazy in making sure his stance is known. As our doctors arrive with the almost victim in tow they are ushered past a manned security check point which is quickly closed behind them. Right on their heels is a red van with mirrored windows. They whisk the young lady into the clinic and several of the doctors and the security guard discuss the van that is sitting just outside the enforced gate. They know who is driving that van and they already have a restraining order against him and by sitting just outside the gate he’s breaking that order.
The head of the facility tells the security guard to go inform the driver that he must be 500 yards away from the gate or he’s calling the cops. Reluctantly the guard does just that and with that we meet Dwayne magnificently portrayed by Ron Pearlman. The guard tells Dwayne he must back off and Dwayne tells him that his daughter is in there and they have got 15 minutes to bring her out. Yep, you guessed it, the young lady that the doctors almost hit is Dwayne’s 15 year old daughter. Things are getting interesting.
The doctors have taken the lady into the clinic and are checking her over and discover that guess what, she’s pregnant. Things get even more interesting.
The doctors learn that they young lady is the daughter of Dwayne, the vigilante pro lifer that has been terrorizing their clinic and, well freak out just a bit but realize that they have an obligation to help they young lady out. While questioning her about the pregnancy she tells them that she is only a week along. But she looks 5 or 6 months along. Things are very interesting.
What follows next is 30 minutes of some of the most disturbing imagery that I have ever witnessed. We have demon babies, an abortion performed on a man ( yeah you read that right) and all sorts of death and destruction.
This is by far some of Carpenters best work in years. Opinionated, passionate, disturbing and controversial Pro-Life is an amazing hour of film making and one that must be sought out and viewed.
This one made me cringe on more than one occasion sometimes from the blood and guts but mostly from the raw honesty and openness in which Carpenter approaches the subject matter. Sure to upset many and also sure to win accolades from most Pro-Life is an instant classic.
Masters of Horror is more then living up to its name this season.
