Watch You Are Not My Mother

You Are Not My Mother is a haunting psychological horror film released in 2021, directed by Kate Dolan in her feature debut. Set against a backdrop of contemporary Dublin, the movie entwines elements of Irish folklore, specifically the changeling myth, with the chilling story of a fractured family. The story revolves around Char, portrayed by Hazel Doupe, a teenage girl navigating the complexities of her identity and familial bonds while confronting the eerie and inexplicable changes in her mother, Angela, played by Carolyn Bracken.

The film opens in a modest, somewhat neglected home in a desolate suburb, where Char lives with her mother and grandmother, Rita (Ingrid Craigie). Char’s life is instantly portrayed as one of muted turbulence, with an air of unease permeating her everyday existence. The mundane routines of school and her home life are occasionally interrupted by a sense of something darker lurking beneath the surface, which is amplified by her mother's unpredictable behavior.

One day, Angela disappears without a trace, leaving Char and Rita to contend with an unsettling absence. When Angela suddenly returns as abruptly as she left, Char is confronted with profound relief, but it's short-lived as she begins to notice strange, disturbing alterations in her mother’s behavior and personality. The once familiar maternal figure who provided warmth and safety to Char has transformed into someone nearly unrecognizable, fostering a palpable tension that seeps through every corner of their household and stretches the already strained threads of family bonds to their limits.

Angela's transformation is chilling to witness, and Carolyn Bracken delivers a performance that masterfully oscillates between vulnerability and an ominous presence. Her embodiment of Angela's dualities becomes a central pillar of the film's horror elements, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats, grappling with a mixture of sympathy and fear.

Hazel Doupe, as Char, presents a nuanced and compelling portrayal of a young woman coming of age in the shadow of her mother’s darkening presence. Char finds herself thrust into the role of caregiver, searching desperately for answers and a way to bring back the mother she knew, all while attending to the needs of her grandmother, whose own knowledge of Irish folklore and whispered lore provides clues as to what might be happening.

In a blend of horror and folklore, You Are Not My Mother takes a deep dive into the darker aspects of human nature and the fragile line between reality and superstition. The film leans heavily on atmosphere and mood rather than explicit scares, creating a lingering sense of dread. The subtle eeriness is accentuated by the understated yet impactful soundtrack and the use of locations that speak to the desolation and isolation experienced by the characters.

The cultural significance of Irish folklore is woven into the narrative, touching upon ancestral stories and beliefs passed down through generations. This cultural backdrop not only enriches the film’s storyline but also serves as a vehicle to explore themes such as mental illness, familial duty, and the loss of self. The ambiguity between supernatural intervention and psychological breakdown adds layers of complexity to the plot and character dynamics, making You Are Not My Mother a rich and thought-provoking piece.

Visually, the film boasts impressive craftsmanship with its cinematography capturing the bleak and overcast landscapes of the Irish setting, reflecting Char's internal turmoil. The use of color, or the lack thereof, paints a somber picture of adolescence fraught with more than the usual challenges. Close-ups and tight shots create a claustrophobic sense of entrapment, mimicking the characters' feelings of being bound by unseen forces — whether those be of tradition, mental health, or something more otherworldly.

Director Kate Dolan skillfully navigates between the psychological and the supernatural, leaving the audience questioning the roots of the horror they witness. The slow burn of tension is punctuated by moments of genuine shock, the restraint in pacing allowing for character development and a buildup to a gripping, powerful conclusion.

You Are Not My Mother has been lauded for its storytelling, performances, and atmospheric tension. A breakout film for Dolan, it stands as an exemplar of contemporary horror that leverages folklore not just for scares, but to tell a more human story about the bonds that tie us and the fears we inherit. It’s an unsettling journey into the unknown, one that lingers with you long after the credits roll, and an impressive addition to the canon of horror films that merge the existential with the supernatural.

You Are Not My Mother is a 2022 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8 and a MetaScore of 74.