Still from This is Not a Heartbeat

Movie

This is Not a Heartbeat

2026Documentary11mEnglish

Interrogates how science is translated, mythologized, and weaponized through the story of one misunderstood sound: the fetal heartbeat. At six weeks, the so-called ‘heartbeat’ is not the sound of a heart at all, but machine-generated audio. Yet this manufactured signal has become deeply emotional and politically charged, used to restrict abortion access across the U.S.

Story Line

Interrogates how science is translated, mythologized, and weaponized through the story of one misunderstood sound: the fetal heartbeat. At six weeks, the so-called ‘heartbeat’ is not the sound of a heart at all, but machine-generated audio. Yet this manufactured signal has become deeply emotional and politically charged, used to restrict abortion access across the U.S.

8.0Global · TMDB

Nine-factor breakdown

SHOWING: GLOBAL
Story
7.5
Acting
7.8
Visuals
8.5
Emotion
8.1
Comedy
7.4
Pacing
7.9
Sound
8.0
Directing
7.3
Rewatch
8.5