Hey, folks, Precious Roy here with a trailer for a horror film called THE LULLABY, also know as SIEMBAMBA. It's directed by Darrell Roodt (YESTERDAY, SARAFINA!) and written by Tarryn-Tanille Prinsloo (SKOROKORO). As near as I can decipher from the images and clues here, THE LULLABY uses the horror genre to take on post-partum depression.
The protagonist, Chloe, gives birth to a baby boy, and she is clearly not connecting to the event warmly. Chloe then deals with the sleeplessness and worry of a newborn in the house, as well as the biological imperatives that come after for her. She seeks help, but her growing fears that something dark and sinister is working against her are dismissed by her doctor. She begins to see and hear a creepy lullaby ("Siembamba"), being played around the house by a sinister creature... The song "Siembamba" is actually referencing harm to snakes, not to babies, but even in South Africa, the context is often confused with infanticide.
I think the struggle will be to keep the audience on Chloe's side as the situation becomes more and more desperate for her. If Roodt can accomplish that, I'm on board!
Precious Roy
