The delirious cult film “Antibirth,” written and directed by Danny Perez, is as scrappy as its characters. Lesbian icon and “Orange is the New Black” star Natasha Lyonne (who also produced) plays Lou, a party girl who finds herself pregnant but doesn’t recall having sex.
In a recent phone interview, Perez explained about the character and story.
“I was inspired by my interest in UFO-abduction stories, and I wanted to write a character for that world and find something specifically for Natasha’s performance style. The theme of pregnancy, and the imagery around childbirth made sense it would be a horror film.”
Lou’s pre-natal care involves doing bong hits, copious drinking and eating poorly. But according to Perez, “Antibirth” is less an anti-drug film, and more of a “commentary on escaping the pain of modern living and becoming a product of that world. Even when you escape reality, you can still be brought back down to [reality] against your will.”
Things get worse for Lou when her skin starts peeling off, a tooth comes loose and there is a rather unsettling puss-filled bulge on her foot. Lyonne is fantastic in the film, inhaling drugs, drinking and dispensing sarcasm with noticeable aplomb. “Antibirth” is a slow-burn horror flick that offers a corker of an ending that is anything but anti-climactic.
In fact, Perez acknowledged, “I knew the [ending] needed to have a big punch. I thought: What is the grossest thing? Then let’s go three steps further.”
“Antibirth” will screen 7 p.m. Sept. 3 at International House, 3701 Chestnut St. Writer/director Danny Perez will host a post-screening Q&A.