Siembamba (2017) User Reviews

Siembamba: Seen it all before

[Platypuschow · 3/10 · 15 November 2018]

The Lullaby otherwise known as Siembamba (For some reason) is a horror title with themes we've seen many times before.

It tells the story of a girl who moves back in with her mother after giving birth to her first child. She's immediatly plagued by visions and begins fear some entity is after her newborn.

Sadly this movies near exact plot has been done before, you'll see the "Twist" coming very early on primarily because it's recycled.

It looks creepy to it's credit and I love that cover art but beyond that there is absolutely nothing going for the film. I knew from the outset what was going on, how the movie was going to play out and what the big "Shocking" finale would be.

It's 2017 where are the new ideas people?

The Good:

Cool cover

Looks the part

The Bad:

Seen it all before

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Does mental illness come from having a child or do you need to be mentally ill to have one in the first place?

Even a non-parent like me recognises that leaving a baby alone with her is a bad move

It was brilliant - then it wasn't

[mjsreg · 5/10 · 26 April 2018]

I really don't know what happened with this film.

The acting was brilliant, the production was polished and very visual, and the story was going along quite nicely - until the ending.

Although the ending is understandable it is very much an anticlimax after all of the effort that has obviously gone into making this film.

it seems as though there was some kind of attempt to shock the viewer with the conclusion to what had gone before. The problem is it is mundane and not shocking at all.

Problematic and troublesome effort

[kannibalcorpsegrinder · 5/10 · 8 March 2018]

Having just given birth to her son, a new mother returns to her mother's house to help raise him, and as their clash of ideals on how to raise him starts to toy with her the idea that something supernatural is trying to hurt him and forces her into a battle with her sanity to stop it.

On the whole, this was a pretty cliched effort overall. The main factor against this one is the fact that so much of this one tends to feel like every other genre effort in this style. The vast majority of the film is incredibly familiar without too many variations, ranging from the sleepless nights up tending to the crying child and ignoring everything around her to deal with these fictitious moments to the inability to recognize the supernatural antics affecting her that could just as easily be just any normal everyday activity. This runs rampant throughout the first half of the film which causes this one to feel incredibly familiar and overly cliched due to the reappearance of all the same setups normally seen in such films. Given that majority of these take place in accordance with the family drama that takes place here doesn't do this one any favors at all since there's little about these scenes that are enjoyable. Again trading on numerous aspects throughout here that are seen many times over, the concept of her behavior and antics directly contradicting her mothers' ideas of childrearing which are handled through rather familiar arguments from being forgetful about locking it out in a different room, holding it in specific positions or generally being considered incompetent on subjects that mothers should be well-versed in. These areas are nowhere near interesting as the idea of these scenes are just dull and their drama-like nature doesn't make for a horror-centric viewing for the most part here. That is the biggest factor against this one since the film takes forever to get going into its horror-based reality that this one is a nearly-impossible entry to get into. Once it does go for some horror-based moments, this one has some decent ideas with the whole effort being about the deterioration of her psyche throughout the film. Taking the stellar backstory inspiration for the figure in her nightmares or the other forces acting on her psyche, this builds up into a rather intriguing and potentially fine storyline that really offers numerous scenes that showcase the breakdown of her psyche as physical acts. From her normal parenting duties that take place here bathing it, tending to it and all that really goes into helping prepare the baby for life, there's a great overbearing sense of dread building up her emotional state connecting the backstory of the ghostly figure to the freakout. This causes the final half to have some stellar energy and brutality which comes with some stellar sequences featuring a few decent jump-scenes with the best bloody scenes in the film. Otherwise, there's not a whole lot else to like here.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language and constant themes of children-in-danger.

A pretty much disturbing lullaby

[KikyNez · 4/10 · 11 March 2018]

There will be some spoilers here!

This movie let me with a bitter taste, and not because it was a good film. Honestly, I rated this 4/10 because I liked the atmosphere and the acting. But, and it is a BIG "But", I was not surprised and I didn't liked the script..

First of all, after the beginning, after the child birth, I knew where it will go. and what was all the "issue" about Liam's father.

The lead actress was awesome and very much believable. Seriously was a great work for her. And then again, I couldn't like the film. I felt the same with "Contracted". Why always made a raped girl/woman be guilty of the act? Because this is what I felt on this movie.

SPOILERS HERE! Poor Chloe was obviously, since we see her delivering the baby, a rape victim. And that is obvius because the first scene before the credits. And we see her the whole movie suffering the borden, keeping the secret. Even her "male friend" told her (before abusing her) "You let some one else have you first" What the heck is wrong with the person who wrote the script? END OF SPOILERS

Movie have good building up on the drama, and on the supernatural thing, atmosphere was creepy and kind of scary some times. It is good, but not for this script.

I don't want see anything again from this crew, but I will take a look on the lead actress in others films.

4/10 The good: creepy atmosphere and good mystery/drama build up. The lead actress was awesome.

The bad: all the rest of the movie.

Watch at your own risk.

terrible movie

[Allison_Ha · 1/10 · 22 March 2018]

Probably the worst movie I've seen in the last five years or so.it was a complete waste of my time.the movie was advertised as a horror movie but it failed to scare me even once, it did however, gross me out beyond imagination. definitely NOT a movie to watch with your family. staring blankly at your ceiling for 90 minutes would be a better use of your time.

Absolute waste of time

[danielak-48350 · 1/10 · 23 March 2018]

The movie has no story to tell and the writers don't seem to care enough about what they wrote. Most scenes are disgusting and disturbing, and cant be categorized as a horror movie at all. I wish I had read the reviews before going to watch this movie and prevented myself to suffer whole through this movie.

Sooo boring.

[lespritz · 1/10 · 18 March 2018]

This has no talent, scare, budget, and is brutally boring, and pointless. Avoid.

This is Terrible!

[gayma-01222 · 1/10 · 21 March 2018]

One of the worst movies that I have ever seen, a side from the cliché blue tones of cinematography, the plot is almost none existent, and the author made no effort to connect the pseudo back-story of the place to the main characters! All characters were lacking any sort of development and history and nothing made sense! In conclusion, BAD story, BAD acting, BAD character development, VERY BAD effects, NO jump-scares, all in all ABSOLUTELY NO REDEEMING QUALITIES!!!

Well, the title speaks for itself...

[paul_haakonsen · 2/10 · 6 April 2020]

I do love watching horror movies, and I must admit that this 2017 horror movie titled "The Lullaby" (aka "Siembamba") was alluring. So I picked it up and gave it a chance, without knowing who was in the movie or what the movie was about. Yeah, I was sold by the movie's cover alone.

Turns out that this movie was a massive swing and a miss from director Darrell Roodt, and it utterly failed to entice or entertain me. I managed to endure just about 30 minutes of the ordeal that is "The Lullaby" before I turned it off and gave up. Nothing had happened, nothing of any worth or any entertainment value. The movie's storyline was just so unfathomably slow paced that it was a drag to sit through.

It should be said that the acting performances, from what I saw, was adequate, especially when you take into consideration the appalling lack of a proper script and storyline, which serves as an anchor around the performer's legs.

I have zero interest in returning to watch the rest of "The Lullaby" ever. It just failed to provide any kind of enjoyable entertainment for me. I've watch many, many horror movies, but this was simply just a waste of time.

My rating of "The Lullaby" lands on a two out of ten stars. It scores two given the production value of the movie. The rest of the contents weren't exactly lifting the movie upwards.

Interesting take on postpartum psychosis

[youngmelissa-92766 · 10/10 · 16 March 2018]

I am well aware of what postpartum psychosis is and this is a really good depiction of it. This movie is more of a psychological horror than a full on jump scare horror. The mental illness was shown very well and for that I'm glad.

A Decent Horror Flick!

[revolutionatic · 6/10 · 16 April 2018]

I don't watch horror movies expecting a great story. I expect to be entertained, disturbed, frightened and disoriented. This movie did all of that.

Without spoiling too much, the main character (Chloe) returns to her hometown, struggling with her own emotions after bearing a baby she does not seem to want initially. she begins to see very strange and horrific things after moving back into her home. This is exacerbated by the presence of her mother (Ruby) and her shrink (Dr. Timothy Reed), whose competence and ethics was questionable throughout the movie.

The cinematography is very well-done. I was not at all disappointed with the way the film was shot. Although, the story does not have to be great in a horror movie, but as with most movies, the story ought not be overly confusing and vague. While watching this film I get the sense that sometimes, the incoherent story was written this way intentionally. Vagueness and open-endedness is great for a horror movie, but I felt that it was not executed smoothly in this one.

The actors did an excellent job, especially Reine Swart (Chloe) and Brandon Auret (Timothy Reed). The only black spot was Adam Hess, who played Chloe's love interest. He was dull and uninteresting throughout the entire movie and seemed to serve no relevant purpose. Chloe does an excellent job portraying a disturbed and distraught new mother. The supporting characters all seemed to have their own agendas, and trying to find out what those agendas were, kept me interested up until the end. As for Chloe, the movie kept me thinking whether she was hallucinating, or whether she was experiencing something paranormal (or even both at different times).

In the end, I would recommend giving this movie a watch if one has time to spare. The movie kept me uncomfortable and curious throughout the entirety of the movie up until the ending, which is what you want in a horror flick. The final scene caused me shock (in a good way) but unsatisfied due to how the story unfolded towards the end. Most of the characters had a lot of layers, and the intentions of the supporting characters were unclear even until the end if one does not do a bit of thinking of their own. Be warned, this movie contains some disturbing gore.

This was not a forgettable movie in the slightest. In fact, some scenes will haunt your memories for days to come. However, due to the unsatisfying ending and the overly confusing nature of the plot, it keeps me from giving it anything higher than a 6 out of 10, which makes this a passably entertaining, yet unfortunately flawed film.

I did something.

[nogodnomasters · 2/10 · 18 March 2018]

The film opens with 1901 background. A concentration camp ran by the British in South Africa was the place of rapes and babies killed from the results of those rapes.

Fast forward to New Eden as Chloe (Reine Swart) gives birth to a baby out of wedlock and vows never to wash her hair so she looks scuzzy the entire film. Not too hard to guess it would be a rape baby. Ghosts from past come to haunt her or else the wiring is bad and TV reception is poor.

We eventually get all of the back story, unfortunately the story wasn't anything new or exciting. Blah dialogue. No likeable characters.

Guide; rape. No swearing, sex, or nudity.

Don't waste your time on rubbish !

[Mosqu1t0 · 1/10 · 2 August 2019]

After watching this movie I wanted so bad to throw up ... This movie is a vomit ! How can such a splatter being described as a "thriller-horror" movie ? Worst movie ever ! 0 fear 100 splatter

Mmm. Try again.

[jfkproductions · 3/10 · 28 September 2018]

Not scary at all. Being a South African I understand the concept and it could have worked, if executed better. I could not find a proper story line, nor could I connect the ending scene to the movie. What was the need for Adam to rape her? What da f##k did I just watch. Please Dti please give me the opportunity and the money and I would make a better movie.

Abusing the child into the horrer movie

[mj-94029 · 1/10 · 12 August 2018]

This movie is nothings like horrer, such child abusing and a mother who did't know whats going on.

Stay away from this film!

[imaginary_dark04 · 1/10 · 29 August 2018]

Just stay away and don't waste your time. it's just terrible and full of cliches from the start. It is just awful. The worst movie I have seen in a long long time!

Bunch of dog poop

[nadiabjc · 1/10 · 21 June 2020]

Worst of the worst. Not even worth a star. Don't bother to waste your time. I certainly won't be getting the hour and half back I wasted watching this movie

A time loop

[khaled-76646 · 1/10 · 22 July 2018]

It is a terrible movie. It is so boring you would be more interested in watching your hand's movement through the fluid that we call it air. It is so boring you wouldn't feel the time passing. Because it wouldn't pass you will be stuck in a time loop forever. If you're an atheist after watching this movie you'll definitely believe in a higher power that saved you from the time loop that is called the lullaby.

Acting, terrible. Producing, terrible. Music, terrible. Directing, terrible.

There are only 2 advantages of this film: 1- It is so boring the cinema would be empty after 15 minutes of this film, You'll feel like you own the place. 2- It is so bad you'd appreciate how good other movies are.

Messy Screenplay for a Simple Storyline

[claudio_carvalho · 3/10 · 8 November 2022]

In Eden Rock, the pregnant Chloe van Heerden (Reine Swart) returns to the house of her estranged mother Ruby (Thandi Puren). She refuses to tell her mother who the father is. She delivers the boy Liam, but fall in depression and lives an ambiguous situation, rejecting Liam and trying also to be a good mother. When she starts to see an evil entity and hear humming and shh, she visits the psychologist of her mother, Dr. Timothy Reed (Brandon Auret), who prescribes pills to her, believing she has baby blues. Meanwhile Chloe recalls how she got pregnant after leaving Ruby and her best friend Adam Hess (Deànré Reiners).

"Siembamba" is an atmospheric horror movie, with a messy screenplay for a simple storyline. The best this film can offer is the magnificent performance of the unknown Reine Swart. She never tells anyone her dramatic fate after leaving home, and the creepy scenes are hard to understand. Is the evil entity part of her insanity process or is she real? The film fails since is not clear. My vote is three.

Title (Brazil): "Siembamba, A Canção do Mal" ("Siembamba, The Song of Evil")

Siembamba (2018)

[SashaDarko · 8/10 · 12 March 2018]

I thought it was going to be your average horror movie, but it's absolutely not. It's a very heavy drama which deals with such themes as horrors of the motherhood, mental illness and rape. All of this and a paranormal element on top of it which references genocide in concentration camps during Anglo-Boer War in 1901.

The horror scenes are terrifying and very effective. The actors' performances are excellent and add a lot to the overall heavy atmosphere.

Afrikaans Horror: An Interesting New Genre But It Drags

[babyjaguar · 6/10 · 7 March 2018]

Caught this film last night, it was met with much anticipation considering last year's social media buzz on its low distribution by South African cinema franchises, supposedly due to its themes. It's been blogged that the film was inspired by Afrikaans folklore but unfortunately the film never really goes there.

It's about a young mother, Chloe played by Reine Swart going through a bad case of social depression. She lives with her mother plus a newly born baby and set in South Africa (although no Black South African actors nor extras are seen). The story specifically takes place in a forest looking location; Eden Rocks, it makes one wonder if it's a reference to the recent controversial "White Christian Only" gated community called "Project Eden" (but that's in the desert area).

Anyway, what follows that Chloe has visions, or illusions of a type of boogey man (or more of a boogey woman spectre) referencing the film's opening scenes of early 1900s Dutch (?) Christians participating in ritual sacrifices. Chloe's spectre comes off looking like a flying nun whose apparitions makes her sanity worse throughout the film, but this is where the narrative drags.

Director Darrell Roodt, who has been nominated (and has received awards) for his film productions such as 1992's Sarafina. Surprising, this film's weakest points of not developing character depth by using its star power, namely Brandon Auret (from CHAPPIE fame) top billed as Dr. Reeds. This narrative had great potential to use his acting talents to raise the suspense and horror, instead of employing predictable jump scares.

Yet, the most notable aspect of "Siembamba" (known as "The Lullaby" abroad) that it's an initiative in developing more contemporary South African cinematic horror. Although its marketing has been trying to do a comparison with the Australian film "The Babadook", but this film could probably be compared to an earlier Millennial Italian horror film, "Ghost Son" by Lamberto Bava (also set in a Southern African location).

Could have been good

[WankerReviews · 3/10 · 30 May 2018]

I feel like this would have benefited with better talent attached to it. I would have much rather it be a drama/thriller. To me all the demonic haunted house delusions, weaken what could have been. the lead actress looks like barbra palvin

Horrible

[aguiarkarina-06593 · 1/10 · 7 July 2022]

One of the worst movies i have ever seen in my life ,dont waste your time on it ,the movie doesnt make any sense,its a mess,they could have at least explained a bit what was going on with the girl or why she was having those nightmares/visions,its a movie that should have not been made for sure.

A very deep look into trauma

[justin-w-nadolski · 8/10 · 4 March 2019]

Words cannot do justice to the film and story. The supernatural crossing is an overlap of trauma centered on motherhood and the destructive nature of patriarchy. This is not a film for those overly sensitive to infanticide and sexual assault.

Stays the course.

[ansell-72879 · 7/10 · 8 October 2021]

The Lullaby starts well and stays the course. A new mum succumbs to disturbing visions as she tries to settle into her new maternal role in her own mother's house.

Is it postpartum depression or something more sinister?

Well, it's a horror movie so there are no prizes for coming up with the right answer to the above question. Director Darrell James Roodt is a seasoned veteran with dozens of films to his credit ranging over several genres. He even has a musical with Whoopi Goldberg under his belt. There is more than a smattering of horror movies in his CV. And these show in this production - he knows his way around spools of the spooky stuff.

He has a very competent cast to work with. Reine Swart as Chloe van Heerden, the 19-year-old single mother tackles the lead with conviction and credibility. The same might be said of Thandi Puren as Ruby van Heerden, who plays her hard hearted mother.

Justus de Jager, director of photography, is both capable and adventurous enough to ensure that The Lullaby is a satisfying visual experience.

The names have by now given away that the film is a South African production.

Special effects are adequate, not actually derivative, but there is a sort of 'been there done that' feel to most of the effects. Jump scares are attempted but by and large don't work. There is an atmosphere of the supernatural rising to prominence as postpartum depression takes second place.

The contrast between hysteria and the sinister with the domestic realities and attendant relationships of single parenthood add an interesting dimension to the film.

I can't put my finger on exactly what or why, but there is an odd Australian sensibility to the South African Lullaby.

The Lullaby is certainly worth a watch. It doesn't bring a lot new to the table but it is interesting enough and provides a worthwhile insight into the flowering of a newish national theatre of horror.