Movie Review: New Life
It goes without saying that COVID-19 left a lasting impression on the world and all who inhabit it. If you were lucky, during the peak months of its outbreak you never contracted the virus, nor did it negatively affect your loved ones; you stayed indoors (hopefully) and you watched the news reports for any indication of when life might finally return to normal. Despite the government-instructed efforts to stay healthy and prevent widespread infection, the majority of us still ended up becoming sick with a strain of the virus one way or another (regardless of safe distancing or vaccination treatments), leaving us to quarantine for over a week, become hospitalized, or worse, succumb to our illness entirely. Reports claim that since the publicized outbreak in 2020, more than 7 million people have died from the coronavirus.
After the global pandemic ran its course—now considered just another part of our lives like the flu or other common illnesses—the horror community seemed to retell the cultural impact within its own terms, as the genre seemingly does best with topics we cannot run from and the feelings that truly strike a chord. Some notable mentions recently released include Kevin Williamson and Katelyn Crabb’s Sick, Jeff Knite’s The Omnicron Killer, and now, John Rosman’s dark thriller, New Life.
Inspired by a documentary Rosman worked on about a young woman diagnosed with ALS (Summer Whisman, to whom the film is dedicated), New Life follows a woman on the run (Hayley Erin) and a resourceful fixer assigned to bring her in (Sonya Walger). The movie wastes no time putting viewers right into the chaos. While we’re not immediately sure what has happened, it is clear that Jessica Murdock (whose name we learn later) has just experienced something traumatic—as observed by her shocked expression, her black eye, and most notably, the blood that covers her face and hair. Questions swarmed my brain: Was she attacked? Did she kill someone? How did she escape?
Whatever happened, Jessica is now on the run, having grabbed some necessary items from her home and literally hiding in the back of vehicles to travel long distances, walking endlessly as day turns into night. The desire to know more about what led us here keeps viewers glued to the screen. My personal interest was further piqued after being introduced to special agent Elsa Gray. Assigned to Jessica by a shadowy government agency, she’s been instructed to detain—or even kill—Jessica before she crosses the Canadian border. Whatever is happening at this point, it’s more serious than anyone could have imagined.
I love a good genre-bending moment and this really took my mind to what it might have been like to watch The Cabin In The Woods backward. Sneaking in bits of comedic moments here and there, all blanketed in the overcast of a government-driven mission, I couldn’t help but wonder where this anxiety-inducing chase would turn horrific. And boy, did it.
Per my introduction, I’m certain those reading might guess that the reason Jessica is running is because she’s sick. If you did, then you’d be right. But, what you probably wouldn’t guess is that she doesn’t know it—at least not right away or in a way that’s obvious to viewers. What I think was ingenious here was the director’s choice to reveal the devastating impact of what’s happening to people after they’ve had an encounter with Jessica. Like the unveiling of a monster or cryptid at the end of a long and terrifying feature, seeing what has become of those infected by being in Jessica’s presence is both unsettling and genuinely scary. I won’t ruin too many details but just be prepared for some gnarly zombie-like transformations. If the special effects weren’t enough, then the realization that she’s asymptomatic should hit home for all. Thankfully COVID-19 didn’t launch an apocalypse, but the times certainly made it feel like the world might be coming to an end. For those eager to watch a film that dangles both horror and hope almost simultaneously all under a very familiar and relatable lens, I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed in seeing New Life.
New Life kicked off its festival run in 2023 at the Fantasia International Film Festival and was also screened at FrightFest London, Overlook Film Festival, Panic Fest, Florida Film Festival, Santa Fe Independent Film Festival, and the Heartland International Film Festival, where it took the 2023 Audience Choice Award.
On May 3, New Life was officially released in theaters and on-demand in North America.
Article by Destiny King
Destiny is a supporting member of the Horror Writers Association who’s been working in B2B publishing for nearly a decade. Her favorite horror subgenres are true crime, found footage, and psychological thrillers. Find her on Letterboxd.
