DANCES WITH FILM 2025 REVIEW! No Choice is the feature-length debut of writer-director Nate Hilgartner. The dramatic horror tale stars Hannah Deale as Amy, a college student barely living above poverty. Her mom, Debra (Jennifer Herzog), is addicted to pain pills, causing friction at home. Amy’s primary source of income is working as a clerk at a convenience store, but she cleans houses on the side. Even with all that, she barely has $20 to scrape together.
The one bright side of her life is seeing Seth (Hayden Frank), a handsome regular at the convenience store. One day, Seth finally asks her out, and the two get hamburgers. After dinner, the two get it on, but the condom breaks. Amy looks up the morning-after pill but is unable to get it until after the time to use it has elapsed. Uncertain of what to do or where to turn, Amy begins having nightmares that show her dying should she not get an abortion. Terrified, she becomes determined to get rid of the fetus inside her, only to learn that abortions are illegal in her state. Amy’s nightmares, though, are only getting more intense and scary.
No Choice is absorbing from the first scene. Amy’s having a dream where she wakes up in the middle of a forest with a $20 bill, which has a blue pill wrapped inside. No words are spoken, leaving Jonas Tarm’s magnificent score to help convey the lush cinematography’s atmosphere. Each dream or nightmare scenario is beautifully captured by director of photography Oleksander Podolyandchuk, who wonderfully conveys Amy’s inner turmoil.
In No Choice, Amy (Hannah Deale) has a critical conversation with Dr. McAnnis (Maria Prudente), as her situation grows increasingly desperate.
“…Amy begins having nightmares that show her dying should she not get an abortion.”
Narratively speaking, the film layers the lead’s increasing desperation to get rid of the baby with intense home drama. Thematically, the film chronicles how destructive anti-abortion laws can be and why they are so dangerous. There is also an examination of familial dysfunction and a desire to improve one’s station, so to speak. But to say more might spoil a few moments, so that’ll remain a bit vague, sorry.
Deale is nothing short of stunning. She’s brave yet afraid, likable yet gruff, sweet yet mean (especially as far as Debra is concerned). There’s a lot she has to emote believably, and the actor never misses a beat. Herzog is terrific as the strung-out mom who does love her daughter. A screaming match turns into a quiet heart-to-heart is riveting. The supporting cast, especially Maria Prudente as Dr. McAnnis, all stand out admirably as well.
No Choice is terrifying, intense, and highly dramatic. The ending is quite the gut punch, but it makes total sense, given everything else that happened prior. The music and cinematography are spellbinding, especially during the nightmares. Hilgratner proves to be a force to reckon with here.
For more information, visit the official No Choice site. No Choice screened at the 2025 Dances With Films.
"…terrifying, intense, and highly dramatic."
