Editing Thora Birch (section)

===2004–2012: Independent films  ===
Birch played a supporting role in ''[[Silver City (2004 film)|Silver City]]'', a political satire directed by [[John Sayles]], which premiered at the [[2004 Cannes Film Festival]]. The [[independent film|independent]] feature received mixed reviews, but ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]''{{'s}} Angie Errigo thought Birch's portrayal of whistleblower Karen Cross was "terrific".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/silver-city-review/|title=Silver City Review|first=Angie|last=Errigo|date=January 1, 2000|work=Empire|access-date=June 15, 2023}}</ref> She co-starred in the crime drama ''[[Slingshot (2005 film)|Slingshot]]'' (2005).

In ''[[Dark Corners]]'' (2006), a psychological horror-thriller about a young woman who wakes up one day as a different person, Birch starred in the dual role of Susan Hamilton and Karen Clarke. The film received a mixed reception, with Adam DiLeo of ''[[IGN]]'' praising its surreal, [[David Lynch]]-style elements, but criticizing Birch's performance.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/06/18/dark-corners-dvd-review|title=Dark Corners DVD Review|first=Adam|last=DiLeo|date=May 14, 2012|work=IGN|access-date=June 15, 2023}}</ref> She followed this with roles in two more genre films: ''[[Train (2008 film)|Train]]''—a loose remake of the 1980 slasher film ''[[Terror Train]]'', released in 2008—and the psychological thriller ''[[Deadline (2009 film)|Deadline]]'', in which she co-starred with [[Brittany Murphy]], who died shortly after the film's release in December 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/25/movies/25arts-MOVIEPOSTERI_BRF.html|title=Movie Poster Is Pulled After Actress's Death|first=Dave|last=Itzkoff|date=December 24, 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 17, 2023}}</ref> Birch later revealed she had been concerned about Murphy's wellbeing during filming.<ref name="Freeman Jan 2014"/>

In the true crime drama ''[[Winter of Frozen Dreams]]'' (2009), Birch played Barbara Hoffman, a Wisconsin prostitute convicted of murder in the first-ever televised murder trial.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://madison.com/news/barbara-hoffmans-sensational-murder-trial-subject-of-film-fest-premiere-with-photos/article_22f9e7b7-2718-5ba6-b59a-377121fd3767.html|title=Barbara Hoffman's Sensational Murder Trial Subject of Film Fest Premiere|first=Mike|last=Miller|date=April 6, 2009|work=Wisconsin State Journal|access-date=June 15, 2023}}</ref> In a review for ''[[Bloody Disgusting]]'', John Marrone described Birch's "alluring" performance as the highlight of the film.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3301790/review-winter-frozen-dreams-forecast-fair-dry-crusty/|title=[Review] 'Winter of Frozen Dreams' Forecast is Fair, If Not Dry and Crusty|first=John|last=Marrone|date=July 8, 2014|work=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=June 15, 2023}}</ref> Next, she took on the role of journalist Sidney Bloom in ''[[The Pregnancy Pact]]'', a [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] movie based on the true story of a group of high schoolers in [[Gloucester, Massachusetts]], who plotted to get pregnant at the same time and raise their children communally.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2010/01/23/2010-01-23_lifetimes_pregnancy_pact_treats_surge_in_teen_pregnancy_with_kid_gloves.html |title=Lifetime's 'Pregnancy Pact' treats surge in teen pregnancy with kid gloves |first=David |last=Hinckley |date=January 23, 2010 |work=New York Daily News |access-date=August 13, 2010 |archive-date=January 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126080732/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2010/01/23/2010-01-23_lifetimes_pregnancy_pact_treats_surge_in_teen_pregnancy_with_kid_gloves.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The film was watched by 5.9 million viewers when it premiered in January 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2010/01/25/lifetimes-the-pregnancy-pact-becomes-ad-supported-cables-number-one-rated-movie-among-women-18-34-in-over-10-years-34340/20100125lifetime01/|title=Lifetime's the Pregnancy Pact Becomes Ad-Supported Cable's Number One Rated Movie Among Women 18-34 in Over 10 Years|publisher=The Futon Critic|date=January 25, 2010|access-date=June 15, 2023}}</ref> Later that year, Birch was cast—in what would have been her stage debut—as [[Lucy Westenra|Lucy]] in the [[off-Broadway]] revival of [[Hamilton Deane]]'s ''[[Dracula (1924 play)|Dracula]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://playbill.com/article/george-hearn-thora-birch-and-michel-altieri-to-star-in-dracula-off-broadway-com-173663|title=George Hearn, Thora Birch and Michel Altieri to Star in Dracula Off-Broadway|publisher=Playbill|date=November 16, 2010|access-date=June 18, 2023}}</ref> but was subsequently dismissed from the production for the alleged behavior of her father—her manager at the time—who was reported to have physically threatened one of the show's cast members during a rehearsal.<ref name="Healy Dec 2010"/>

Birch played the role of Vivian in ''[[Petunia (film)|Petunia]]'' (2012), an independent dramedy depicting the lives and romantic relationships of a dysfunctional New York family. Birch, who is credited as one of its producers,<ref name="Freeman Jan 2014">{{cite news |title=Thora Birch: how Hollywood's darling disappeared |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jan/23/thora-birch-hollywood-darling-disappeared|access-date=June 15, 2023|newspaper=The Guardian|date=January 13, 2014|first=Hadley|last=Freeman}}</ref> described the "intimate [and] honest" feature as "a little bit different".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.starcam.com/post/thora-birch-petunia-premiere.aspx |title=Thora Birch Explains How "Petunia" is Different from Standard Summer Fare |publisher=Blog.starcam.com |date=2012-07-26 |access-date=2013-07-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102191802/https://blog.starcam.com/post/thora-birch-petunia-premiere.aspx |archive-date=2012-11-02}}</ref> Given a small theatrical release in the U.S.,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theindependentcritic.com/petunia |title="Petunia" is One of 2013's Most Rewarding Films |publisher=The Independent Critic |access-date=2017-01-12}}</ref> the film garnered mixed reviews,<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Dennis |last=Harvey |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/petunia-1117947805/ |title=Petunia |magazine=Variety |date=2012-06-24 |access-date=2017-01-12}}</ref> though Birch and the rest of the ensemble were praised.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/petunia-film-review-576487/|title=Petunia: Film Review |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2013-06-27 |access-date=2017-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/28/movies/petunia-stars-christine-lahti-and-thora-birch.html|title=Wilted Spirits in an Abstemious Family|work=The New York Times|date=June 27, 2013|access-date=June 15, 2023}}</ref>