The Surrogate

Give me more Jasmine Batchelor please and in a hurry. In her feature film debut she knocks it out of the park in a very nuanced character study. Batchelor plays the best friend of Josh (Chris Perfetti) who along with his husband ask her to be a surrogate and from there we have a film that should leave you thinking or even better talking. Jeremy Hersh, who wrote and directed just his second feature film has been able to capture moments that are real. While there isn't a lot on the page, and there certainly is a lot a time with zero dialogue, it's necessary as we digest the complications that arise. This is why we watch movies! Final Score: 8/10

Outstanding performances. A thoughtful exploration of a very modern problem -- thankfully not a "downer", not preachy --- just a thoughtful examination of a dilemma.

I thought it was as an ok movie. The ending was disappointing... all that fight For the baby to be born only to still get an abortion... makes me think what was the point of fighting all that time.... I understand people are allowed to change their mind... just was disappointing... I was rooting for her and little baby...

SPOILER ALERT for those who have not watched yet— Very well acted for a most common circumstance. I found myself rooting for the main character throughout the movie as she searched all avenues for a humane solution to her predicament. I respected that she also embraced searching her soul, her morals and even a bit of faith in what would be the best decision. I know ‘happy endings’ are not always reality, but up until the very end I really hoped she had stayed on her original path...., and then, POOF, she changes her mind for the selfish reason of not wanting to be connected to the father of the baby. Suck it up, woman!! For THAT crap reason you end a life..... NOT because you’d be a single mom? Or it would be a financial burden on you? Or your career would be possibly jeopardized? Or what was the biggest issue throughout the whole movie, being the fetus tested positive for Down syndrome? She painstakingly got past ALL of this and more, yet when she realized she could in no way be connected to her two gay male ex- friends through her child, she just throws in the towel. So quick was this very sad and disappointing decision ( hence why only 4 stars) that I actually felt sick to my stomach. Shameful the disregard for human life, in any form.....and why was adoption all of a sudden taken off the table? Made no sense, after trying to prove this child had as much right as any to have a life. I guess bitterness and selfishness overrule all.

This film failed the Down Syndrome community. At first they did a very good job representing the community and giving information and facts that really seem to validate their lives. I was very proud at the representation and the fight that Sarah had and the drive and passion that she pursued information and exposure with. As a mother who went through this exact same journey not as a surrogate but as a mother learning that her baby was going to have Down syndrome you did all the right things in advocating that these lives absolutely matter. But since she killed the baby in the end it was all for nothing and you might as well have left the Down Syndrome plotline out of this whole movie. Basically everything that everyone else was saying negatively one out and anything you tried to do to bring positive attention to individuals born with Down Syndrome was no and void and I am passing this around the Down Syndrome community because we work very hard to make sure people understand that their lives are worthy and to have just some movie squash it like that is highly disappointing. The movie had a real chance and Sarah was my hero until the end. Shame on you for playing into the narrative that individuals with Down Syndrome are too much trouble.

Smartly written and well acted, this is one of the better LGBTQ indie films out there, but focusing, rightly so, on the Surrogate. Find it somewhere.

Literally one of the top 10 worst movies I have seen ! Can't believe I lasted until that ending (which was terrible).