I remember liking this episode more than a lot of the episodes in the second season of Masters of Horror, but I still took a long time to get back to re-watching it.It's a strange story, since it deals with one of the core divisive issues (at least in the US.) But both times I watched this, I've come away feeling that they didn't actually make any statements about the issue.It's true that the Father comes across as being the more villainous character, but the Doctor isn't a fully sympathetic character either.Which brings us to the main problem that the episode has - it seems to lack a point. I suppose, you could sum it up as "don't blindly listen to voices in your head" It's not actually a bad episode though. It's paced well, it develops nicely, and it holds attention. But it's also more forgettable than it should be, and by the end, it feels easy to shrug off.

Why is it that those who have no idea what the people they portray, or write about, really think continue to thrive? They obviously don't write from experience. Ergo, with any role they play, or with any script, they are creating pure fiction.What Carpenter was attempting to do is anyone's guess. However, to portray "pro-lifers" as gun-happy, violent maniacs is just too ridiculous for words.I must assume that Carpenter was trying to ask some question like, "Would they be pro-life if the baby is the spawn of Satan?" He winds up asking, "How can I be so inept and still have so many think I am great?" Here is an idea for Hollywood: Why not have a conservative portray a conservative? Why not have a military person play a military person? Why not have a Christian portray a Christian? Oh yeah! That would leave no room for the propaganda.

Not really very original, since clearly elements of both "Assault on Precinct 13" and "The Thing" are rather obvious. In addition, lots of plot holes get in the way. The effects are alright, but there are some annoying flaws, the most glaring being why no one has a cell phone to call police, after the phone lines are cut? Ron Perlman is in his comfort zone, as the psycho pro-life father, assaulting the abortion clinic where his daughter is being attended to by the rather naive staff. Another weak point in the script is why Perlman continues to torture the doctor, when his daughter is screaming at the top of her lungs just down the hall? "Pro Life" has lots of screaming, but not much meaning. - MERK

Horror master John Carpenter contributed one of the best entries to the first "Masters of Horror" season with "Cigarette Burns" (Season 1, Episode 8), but he sadly didn't keep the high quality Horror up with this fifth episode of the 2nd season, "Pro-Life". "Pro-Life" certainly has its qualities, as it's pretty disturbing at times and furthermore stars none other than Ron Perlman, who is always an enrichment to the films he stars in. The episode also has its faults, however. Strangely, all MoH episodes that have a somewhat political theme or subplot seem to be lacking in many departments and "Pro-Life" is no exception to that. While the episode is brutal, disturbing and occasionally also quite creepy I couldn't say it was genuinely scary. A religious fanatic (Perlman) attempts to 'rescue' his pregnant teenage daughter from an abortion clinic, and is determined to use any violence necessary to do so. His daughter however, has some very particular reasons for wanting to abort... While "Pro-Life" is not one of the very good episodes of the series, it certainly isn't one of the bad ones either. Ron Perlman is great as always in the role of the religious fanatic, and his performance alone saves this episode from mediocrity. The daughter, played by Caitlyn Wachs, is the only lovable character in the episode. The problem about the episode is that, other than the innocent daughter, there is really no character one would care about. Actually, I almost wanted everybody else to die. Like "Cigarette Burns" this is again one of the most violent entries to the series. One scene, in which abortion devices are 'misused' is especially nauseating. Overall, "Pro-Life" is not breathtaking, but a worthwhile episode for MoH fans.