The horror movie genre has tackled taboos and pushed boundaries for nearly a century, but nothing is quite so terrifying, in any genre, as the mortality of a pregnant woman or her unborn child.

The latest release in the recent frenzy of zombie movies arrives on DVD today. In Grace, the first feature film from writer-director Paul Solet, a woman faces the frightening prospect of losing her fetus in the final trimester, only to discover that something far worse has occurred.

“If you’re pregnant and you lose your child and don’t induce, you can carry to term,” Solet informed the audience. “This is a decision women make more frequently than we like to talk about.”

Grace isn’t the first movie that features a zombie baby (the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead showed us what happens when a pregnant zombie gives birth) but it is the first to tackle the emotional topic of fetal death as the primary element in a genre film.

As a moviegoer, Solet likes films that “get under his skin.” As a filmmaker, he was inspired by his own family history when he wrote the script, which was originally condensed into a 2006 short film by the same name as his feature.

“I was 19, I was having a conversation with my mom,” Solet said. “She told me I had a twin that didn’t make it.”

Grace received critical acclaim following its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was purchased by Anchor Bay Entertainment for distribution. The final theatrical screening was the closing night gala at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. The festival, previously held in October, was moved to mid-August for its fourth year as Toronto’s horror, fantasy and cult film festival. Organizer Adam Lopez said the move opened up more options for film selection.

“When you wait until October, many films aren’t available,” Lopez said. “Deals are made at other festivals and films are released between August and October.”

For anyone seeking out Grace, the film’s plot and resolution will be no surprise. The achievement here is in the execution. Grace is a beautifully crafted film that maintains a consistent state of tension and features some truly riveting and wonderfully choreographed scenes.

Character development is crucial to the tempo of the movie, with “scream queen” Jordan Ladd and veteran Canadian actress Gabrielle Rose delivering powerhouse performances. Despite a lack of gratuitous gore, Grace features some cringe-inducing scenes that caused two men to faint during the screening at Sundance.

“You can tell when a movie is working when you look into the audience and the women are [cringing and guarding their breasts],” Solet demonstrated. “You know you really have them when the men are [doing the same].”