“Mother of Flies” follows a young woman who seeks dark magic from a witch in the woods after receiving a deadly diagnosis.
A Jolt of Blood and Dread
The film aims to shock from the opening frames, with a bloody introduction that will certainly capture horror fans’ attention. It doesn’t stop after the title card, immediately moving into additional haunting imagery.
This gives “Mother of Flies” an immediate jolt of life.
After the snappy intro, “Mother of Flies” drastically shifts gears, however. In almost every aspect, it’s the perfect bundle of weird that will likely deter general audiences.
The film moves in a dialogue-heavy direction – one that is purposefully bland. This isn’t because the performances are bad, but rather how the characters are written.
The Adams Family (Toby Poser, John Adams and daughter Zelda Adams) are responsible for the writing, directing, score and performances within “Mother of Flies.”
Poser (Solveig) delivers the standout performance. She may feature less screen time than the other two leads, but remains a magnetic presence each time she appears. She brings a sense of calm to the screen that is both eerie and comforting.
Zelda Adams and John Adams both succeed as well. Despite some awkward delivery, each makes their character feel real.
Conversations are often unnatural and almost robotic. This is all part of the movie’s unique style, but it does make it challenging to connect with at times.
DIY Approach that Works
The same can be said about its visuals. The film is directed in an incredibly simplistic fashion. The approach to filmmaking is minimal, and it feels very DIY because of this. It isn’t trying to be flashy. Nor is it.
The family’s band, H6LLB6ND6R, creates the movie’s soundtrack. While it sometimes intrudes abruptly on quiet moments, it manages to add a metallic kick to the film.
Despite its simplicity, the movie is undeniably beautiful – largely because of its phenomenal practical effects.
It’s due to these effects that “Mother of Flies” includes several genuinely unnerving and unsettling moments. Even a few that earned audible groans. And not just once. As the 92-minute runtime progresses, the film continues to up the ante.
This escalation remains subtle, but it crawls under the skin on multiple occasions.
Purposeful Folk Horror
Despite all of its “weirdness,” the film culminates into something truly meaningful. It examines terminal illness and mortality through a folk horror lens. Many movies struggle to resonate when tackling these themes. “Mother of Flies” somehow does.
Tonal shifts occasionally prevent the messaging from fully sticking the landing, but the metaphor remains clear.
The ending is thought-provoking in several ways. In certain respects, it asks the audience to recontextualize the concept of death altogether. It’s both ambiguous and direct – and it works.
“Mother of Flies” sparks unease from the opening shot to the last. Exploring terminal illness through folk horror, the film succeeds. It’s a true indie project, with passion shining through every frame.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
