Oh "DARLIN" (2019) full mini review

Pollyanna McIntosh is an extremely talented woman and her performance as "The Woman" is one for the ages. DARLIN is the long awaited sequel to that film as well as the third in the trilogy that included Offspring (2009) and The Woman (2011). In this film, The Woman forces her daughter into a hospital and from there the girl is "adopted" by a Bishop who is as expected, sleazy and self-serving. The girl is transformed from feral to biblical in record time as her mom waits in the shadows waiting to pounce.

While technically well made, at times this has a TV-movie of the week appearance. Pollyanna has owned her character but she made the profound mistake of trying to own the entire trilogy by writing and directing and her inexperience shows at key moments. Honestly the film just didn't grab me and the actors (other than McIntosh and Canny) seemed to be going through the motions. Later in the film, The Woman aligns herself with a very strange group of "bag ladies" who launch a silly assault on the church bringing the serious proceedings down to wonky, camp level. Fellow Walking Dead alum, Cooper Andrews adds very little as the nurse who befriends Darlin.

The Nun and Bishop here could have been cut and pasted from a trove of other similar films.

Offspring was a foundering beginning but at least put the pieces in place for the tour-de-force of The Woman. Imperfect, the second film was still a powerhouse of violence, shock, gore and morality. The finale film should have been an explosion but instead retreads the entire Woman storyline (in a different setting) adding nothing to the overall premise and is a watered down version in itself. Several things here are nonsensical like the woman killing folks unprovoked and the revelation that she just wants to hold and cuddle a baby(!).

Summation: Fans of The Woman will be disappointed but first timers to the trilogy will find a good, if flawed film. I didn't hate it but expected much more. It should be noted that international sensation reviewer Luca Pincelli's review is spot on. We don't always agree (Blackcoat's Daughter, Belko Experiment) but this time I echo nearly everyone of his sentiments on this film. Click the link to read his in depth review:

https://horrorworld.reviews/2019/07/17/darlin-2019-movie-review/

My score is: 3/5 stars