False Positive is a thriller drama film directed by John Lee. This Hulu platform film stars Ilana Glazer, Justin Theroux, and veteran actor Pierce Brosnan. The anxiety of a pregnant mother with her first child several times is presented in films through various genres. False Positive is one of the unique ones recorded by playing with the realm of horror; it can even enter the sci-fi category.
Adrian (Theroux) and Lucy (Glazer) are not blessed with a child after several years of their marriage. Finally, they decided to visit the clinic of a well-known obstetrician, John Hindle (Brosnan), who is also Adrian’s former lecturer. After that, Lucy became pregnant. In development, Lucy encountered some irregularities in the doctor’s practice and suspicions about her husband. Or, is this all just delusions of the mother who is too worried about the fetus’s condition?
We often see this kind of formula in the horror genre where the protagonist’s sanity is questioned. Is the mother insane or delusional, or what she fears, feels, or sees is real? For example, horror films directed by Ari Aster, Hereditary and Midsommar, played brilliantly in this area, making it difficult for the audience to anticipate. False Positive, playing very well, packing the mystery side of the plot almost throughout the film. The audience is not difficult to guess the story’s direction because, throughout the plot, these two sides are highlighted equally well. The audience is taken into an endless curiosity which is finally “answered” in the ending. Is it?
Despite its quirky story and promising premise, False Positive has a cloudy ending and message. This film could lead to the depression of the mother during pregnancy, which is presented brilliantly. Still, the ending feels too dark and brutal for its message. Another one is entering the realm of sci-fi, talking about male superiority through the figure of Dr. Hindle. The ending is again too brutal for this. So did these two happen? If yes, then what is the point of making such a complicated story? In terms of aesthetics and story, this film does have more value. Still, if it is intended as a message (especially for a mother), this film is the same as the title point. Or is this what the filmmakers hoped for? The female audience (a mother) seems to understand the story better.
