This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the work being covered here wouldn’t exist.
Psychological horror movies tend to focus on one of two things. In some cases, the situation is of prime importance and the characters are just there to react. Other times, the actors take center stage and the performances drive the plot. Early on, it is clear that Mother, May I? is going to be in the latter. It soon becomes apparent that the performances and situation work hand in glove.
Emmet’s (Kyle Gallner, Smile) mother has recently passed away. He has inherited her house and plans on selling it. His fiancé Anya (Holland Roden, No Escape) sees this as an opportunity to help him face past traumas. But when she starts acting like Emmet’s mother has she gone too far or is it something far more sinister?
There is tension between the two even before Anya’s transformation. This gives Mother May I? a taut atmosphere that only escalates. Anya and Emmet are both fragile human beings and seemingly anything can cause them to break. Gallner is fantastic as a man who can be aggressive and combative, but also is compassionate and wants to be a better person. It sounds like the description of every abusive partner, but that is not the case here. Emmet is sympathetic and truly loves Anya.
The two characters are a fascinating watch as they change over the course of the film. The intentionally downplayed horror aspects sometimes feel out of place, but the uncomfortable atmosphere makes up for any missteps. Frustrating and overwhelming, it is still easy to get dragged into the movie’s world.
Mother May I? is at its best when focusing on the the relationship. There are some heady themes at play in the film and the Freudian psychodrama will have audiences questioning the motivations behind the relationship. The ending underscores the dynamics between the pair in a moment in which both get everything they want – which may be the saddest thing of all.
Mother May I? comes to theaters, digital, and VOD July 21
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