Mother of Flies is the latest modern folk horror from the Adams family. Mickey (Zelda Adams) has a tumor and only has been told she has six months to live. After seeing various doctors, she decides to meet with a woman named Solveig (Toby Poser) who claims she can cure Mickey. Along with her father Jake (John Adams), Mickey soon learns that Solveig has something else in mind.
The strong imagery of the film works on two levels. The setting is set in a beautiful lush forest. The directors (listed as the entire family) do an excellent job of showcasing the green fields, gorgeous waterfalls, and the moss. The house Mickey and Jake are staying at looks like something out of a fairytale and fits the story perfectly.
Mother of Flies also makes great use of more horror-centric visuals. The first shots are of a person writing in a pool of blood. It is a powerful opening that provides an idea of what is to come. There are closeups of rapidly moving maggots, decayed corpses that talk, and one of the best flying witch scenes ever done in an indie horror.
The writing (also credited to the entire family) is not as strong. The mystery is interesting enough. It is the pacing of Mother of Flies that becomes an issue. Information is doled out slowly in a way that can make it hard to become invested in the characters themselves. The plot tries to add a backstory, but it is not enough to tie together what happens at the end. The resolution is a refreshing change of pace, however.
The small cast is comprised almost exclusively of family. This does lead to many indierific moments, but it only adds to the atmosphere. The natural chemistry adds to the story’s atmosphere. Everything said feels real and urgent. The performances are the deciding factor that make Mother of Flies a creepily fun watch.
Mother of Flies premieres on Shudder January 23.
