Over the last few years, Tubi streaming network has stolen the undead hearts of the Horror Nation. With a monster line up of horror films spread through their catalog, the free streaming service has quickly become a beacon of dark light for horror fanatics. This December, on an original script from writer/director Lori Taylor, Tubi is releasing their first original film. Bed Rest could very well put Tubi atop of the horror streaming mountain ahead of competitors Shudder and Screambox, with a strong showing.
Several years after the dramatic loss of her newborn son, Julie Rivers and her husband Daniel attempt to put their past behind them. With Julie expecting the birth of another child, the couple purchase an older Victorian home in the countryside. As Julie begins to discover, the home holds a mysterious dark past. After a minor accident, Julie is ordered to bed rest by her physician for the final trimester of her pregnancy. The solitude encompassed by boredom, sends Julie spiraling down a familiar dark road. Her husband, medical team, and personal caregiver all believe the happenings inside the home and her head are just old anxieties brought on by the tragedy of her previous pregnancy. Julie believes there is another force at work. Is this hysteria just a conjured perception in her head, or has the demons from this home found a perfect partner to play with?
Tubi has made a terrific terror first splash in the production pool. A smart move to purchase the rights to this slow burn psychological thriller, which was originally slated as a theatrical release from giants MGM. Coming off of her strong performance in Scream 2022, Melissa Barrera gives another solid show as the lead Julie, as well as serves as a producer on the film. Barrera runs the gauntlet of emotions with ease, showing a sweet motherly side in one frame before switching to a grief-stricken soul that is ripe with psychosis. Guy Burnet couples Barrera perfectly as a concerned husband who is also beyond a breaking point in letting the past die a final death. Taylor presents a fantastic script that uses subtle hints throughout the first two acts, which build to a creepy crescendo. Taylor’s claustrophobic shot selection is coupled with several clever camera maneuvers that give the audience a real life feel that they are inside this haunted house. Bed Rest is a fantastic start to the Tubi only distribution era, with hopefully much more to come.
Scream Score: 8.7/10