Mother of Flies

The tour de force that is the Adams family have been creating independent folk horror films for years. Their sixth feature is by far the most ambitious to date. Mother of flies could be considered a spiritual sequel to Hellbender (2021), with supernatural themes and unbreakable familial bonds. Mickey (Zelda Adams) is a young student suffering from a terminal illness. Desperate to find an alternative to conventional treatments, she and her father Jake (John Adams) embark on a trip to meet Solveig (Toby Poser), a mysterious woman who lives in the woods as a healer. Upon arrival it appears Solveig may not be equipped to help, something Jake is quick to vocalise. She lives in a treehouse, miles from the conformity of western communities and appears dismissive of modern medicine. We soon learn the trappings of our own surroundings may not be the only way. This film is spectacularly paced, unravelling the darkness being Solveig's ritualistic methods in a way that creeps into your subconscious and before you know it you too are hypnotised by her otherworldly aura. The tone of this movie is spot on. Having each family member involved in production provides cohesion often missing from large scale releases. Their vision is lovingly brought to life in full glorious, gory colour. You can feel the texture of more visceral scenes. Decomposition is a key visual theme with foley artists and sound design adding depth to the guts and bile on screen. Most modern filmmakers should take note - it's not enough to show blood, audiences need to feel it. Horror plays on our fear of death in a way nothing else can. The Adams family using real life experiences to fuel creativity only adds to the deep seeded darkness in Mother of Flies. The emotional tone is beautifully mirrored in the perfectly chosen soundtrack. Every song is lyrically reflective for the scene it's paired with, adding depth and profundity. By balancing horrific themes and raw emotion, we're presented with one of the most creatively haunting folk horror films of recent years. I'm excited to see where this fiercely talented family takes us next.