The traditional American dream entails a wealthy married couple with two children living in a large house gated by the iconic white picket fence.

In the movie, “When the Bough Breaks,” couple Laura and John Taylor had undeniable career success with John on the brink of making partner while Laura was an executive chef.

The home with a beautiful wall of windows, a spacious guest house, walk-in closet filled with designer clothes and the outside anchored with white columns represented how financially secure the couple was.

From the outside looking in anyone would assume the couple lived a happy life. However, society’s pressure for couples to have children planted seeds of desperation within the wife.

Unfortunately, society sometimes finds women who do not have children overlooked.

Women who have a desire to focus on establishing a career are considered selfish and even manly.

The thought of being associated with these negative perceptions drove Laura to not only develop self-hatred but sheer desperation.

In the movie Laura said after experiencing two miscarriages she began to hate her own body and this prevented her from being intimate with her husband.

The movie captured how detrimental it can be when a person is pursuing the impossible task of perfection.

The Taylors had given up on natural birth and began looking for a surrogate.

By rushing the procedures of background checks, extensive interviews and recommendations the couple decided to allow Ana Walsh carry their child.

Initially Ana was the perfect fit a young beautiful woman who was sweet and generous but envy, lust and outside pressures pushed her to act wild and dangerously.

Overall the plot was original and intriguing.

The crescendo of eerie background music helped intensify the scary and suspicious mood.

All of the actors did an incredible job especially Jaz Sinclair who played Ana Walsh, the hormonal psycho.

Sinclair was extremely believable. The director did a good job in showing the audience why Ana behaved so recklessly and did a good developing her back story.

Actress Regina Hall played Laura and actor Morris Chestnut played John I admire of both of these talented thespians.

I had high expectations for these two actors but unfortunately they lacked chemistry on screen. It was difficult to accept that the two were married and were in love.

I just could not grasp the two being a couple. The director could have showed more of John’s reactions, thought process and background throughout the movie.

The audience was left to wonder if he actually would remain loyal to his wife or would he fall prey to the excessive attention from the surrogate. The end completely ruined the movie for me.

It was so unrealistic that I could not do anything but shake my head in disappointment.

The most anticipated moment, the birth of the child. was rushed and overlooked. Then the director left the movie open ended leaving the audience with the task of determining who is to blame and deciding who is guilty or not.

I thought it was an okay movie. I enjoyed the suspense and the message behind the movie but the ending was just lack luster.

I would give the film a 5 out of 10 because of the horrible ending and the unbelievable plot.

Kalyn Hayslett can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]