“Grace” might end up being the little horror movie that could.

Before the festival, I didn’t hear much buzz about the film. I knew a few people that wanted to see it….but no one was talking about it the way people were looking forward to “Paper Heart” or “Adventureland”. But after a screening where people were passing out in the theater and a press screening that got raves from everyone that saw it… “Grace” might end up beingone of thesurprises from this year's festival.

Since most of you haven’t heard of the film yet…here’s the synopsis.

Madeline and Michael Matheson have been trying to have a baby for years.

After multiple miscarriages, they finally are seven and a half months pregnant. Disheartened with traditional obstetric medicine, Madeline brings Michael to Naturebirth, an independent natural birthing clinic run by Patricia Lang, a former professor of Madeline’s. Despite the strong objections of Michael’s straight-laced, conservative mother, Vivian, the couple agrees that using Patricia is best for the child.

Shortly afterward, an accident leaves both Michael and the unborn child dead.

Though absolutely devastated, Madeline is advised to carry the child to term and deliver naturally. Two weeks later, at Naturebirth, Madeline delivers her dead child. She asks Patricia for a minute alone with the baby. She strokes the child’s hair. Opens its lips and lays it on her breast. When Patricia returns, the baby is nursing, color returned to her skin. Madeline offers a warm smile and explains, “It’s Grace. Her name is Grace.”

Madeline takes the baby home, alive and miraculously reconstituted. But Grace’s health starts to decline. Her hair begins to loosen and come out in her brush. She starts to smell. Her temperature begins to drop. Flies become overtly interested in her. Layers of skin wash off in the bathtub, leaving terrible sores.

Madeline is at her wits’ end, but remains convinced that if she involves traditional medicine, the situation will only worsen. Finally, Grace loses interest in her mother’s milk and refuses to nurse.

Exhausted, Madeline passes out, desperately trying to feed Grace. She awakens some time later to find Grace is nursing. Ravenously. She tries to pull her off, but she won’t budge. It hurts. Finally, she pulls the baby from her breast. A little stream of blood runs down Grace’s chin. Madeline checks her damaged breast. Grace hasn’t been drinking milk.

Madeline tries to find alternative food for Grace, but the baby becomes desperately ill and starts to deteriorate unless she receives human blood. Madeline resigns herself to feeding Grace her own blood, but the baby’s appetite grows, and Madeline’s health rapidly declines. Before long, she grows anemic, and her blood no longer staves off Grace’s deterioration.

With nowhere to turn, Madeline must make a mother’s ultimate decision: Will she kill to keep her child alive?

Anyhow, I was given 6 clips from the film and they’re below. Unfortunately, all the clips are rather short, but at least you can see some footage from a movie still far away from being released.

Finally, I interviewed director Paul Solet at Sundance and the video will be online later tonight or tomorrow. Until then…here are the clips:

Clip 1 – Bugs

Clip 2 – In bed

Clip 3 – Kinder kills and cleaner cuts

Clip 4 – Feeding tube

Clip 5 – Feeding tube part 2

Clip 6 – Walking