You Are Not My Mother (2021) Movie Review - Effective, Dark, Domestic Irish Horror

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are taking a look at Irish horror movie You Are Not My Mother. Dealing with themes of mental illness combined with Celtic folklore. This is a dreary movie that places a strong emphasis on familial drama. A degree of social commentary provides a minor background theme. As it stands, though, this is straight up horror.

You Are Not My Mother follows the story of teenager Charlotte and her mum Angela. When Angela goes missing one day, the family are concerned. She suffers from Bipolar Disorder and is something of a vulnerable person. Char is relieved when she returns but something seems different, her mum doesn’t seem the same as she did before. If you enjoy gloomy, slow burning, movies, carry on reading. If not, you probably want to look elsewhere.

A Horror of Many Themes

You Are Not My Mother is one of those horror movies that employs a number of themes. Many of these themes have become fairly common in horror as of late. Focusing on a young girl who is struggling due to a difficult home life. This feels like a domestic horror story for much of its runtime. Char is viciously bullied by other girls. Awkward and reserved, she has no friends and a complicated school life.

The story hints at a history that has left the girl ostracised by peers. Wearing a scar on the right side of her face. Her mother’s claim that it is a birthmark does not ring entirely true. An uncomfortable tension exists from the very get go. Late for school, Char’s mum, Angela, pulls herself out of bed to drive her in. Clearly struggling with bipolar disorder, it soon becomes clear that she feels incapable of going on. A short disappearance results in her returning, seemingly, changed. Domestic tensions rise as the family struggle to keep Angela medicated. It soon becomes clear that there is more going on than meets the eye.

Effective and Relatable

It is effective stuff. Char’s social housing neighbourhood feels hostile. Her home even more so. This is a movie that aims to set a mood and pull you down with it. The gloomy, grey, ambience of the Irish autumn makes for a fitting backdrop. I often lament the greyness of horror from the British Isles, be it Scottish, English, Welsh, or Irish. We have a climate here that makes for a depressive feeling. A feeling that only someone who has been raised under it could fight off. If you wish to share in Char’s feelings of hopelessness. You need only look at the rainclouds threatening overhead.

Char’s homelife feels painfully real and authentic which only adds to the gloom. Her mother is suffering, there are secrets in her family, everyone is concerned and nobody will tell her what is going on. It’s easy to buy into this confined depression. This is a situation all too real for many people. Char is, basically, a powerless observer of events. This feeling rubs off on the viewer, eventually giving way to horror of an entirely different kind.

Mental Illness and Celtic Folklore

The temptation here would be to focus on a metaphorical type of horror. Angela is suffering from bipolar disorder. As a sufferer myself, I often struggle with movie representations of the illness. There’s Something Wrong With The Children is one such example. Angela’s bipolar disorder is presented in a frighteningly realistic manner. The frustration of her relatives and patronising approach of the people around her rings all too familiar for anyone with the condition. It feels as though the writer has actually experienced this before.

Despite the mental health aspect playing a pivotal role, it eventually gives way to something rooted far deeper in horror and folk lore legend. It feels, at times, all too real and all too troubling. When all is said and done, however, You Are Not My Mother wraps things in a neat horror bow. The ending is satisfying and effective, which brings me onto my next point. Effective horror is something that this movie does very well.

Actually Creepy and Fantastically Acted

Certain scenes in You Are Not My Mother are genuinely creepy. Angela’s condition goes beyond simple mania and, as that becomes more apparent, the horror really ramps up. The movie steps in and out of various sub-genres effectively, never staying in any one for too long. Elements of body horror are welcome for their ability to turn your stomach while chase scenes are both tense and impactful. The domestic side of things maintains its relevance. It is a wonderful balance capably supported by the excellent cast.

Hazel Doupe is entirely believable and sympathetic as Char. As the viewer, you easily buy into her strained home life. You feel for her when she is attacked by other girls and you sympathise with her as she struggles with her mum’s changes. Carolyn Braken, puts on a powerful performance as mum Angela. Keeping the viewer continuously guessing regarding her state of mind. Certain scenes are memorable for her committed and creepy performance. She would go on to wow in a lead role in the fantastic horror movie Oddity which you should absolutely watch as soon as possible. Side characters are all fine. Jordanne Jones is noteworthy for her turn as nuanced character Suzanne.

Decent Cinematography but a Few Issues

Cinematography here is fine. This isn’t a stunning part of Ireland. This is a North Dublin housing estate so don’t expect stunning vistas. The mood is deliberately grey and dreary and the camera work reflects that. Kate Dolan’s direction is, generally, excellent. Pacing is okay but the film does sag a bit in parts. The 93 minute runtime feels a little long in places. Some of the domestic stuff feels inconsequential and a little trimming here and there could have helped.

Some of the events are a bit ridiculous. The bullying, for example, seems utterly farcical. It would take some seriously messed up kids to resort to what these girls do. The metal illness aspect is as stale and curdled as three week old milk. It adds some minor flavouring to the story and little else. Otherwise, this is a fantastic hidden gem of a slow burn horror.

Should You Watch You Are Not My Mother?

You Are Not My Mother is an effective Irish horror movie that is definitely worth a watch. Slow burning and rather dreary in parts. This is a movie that you will think you have figured out. Only for it to go off in a completely different direction. A focus on mental illness coupled with dark domestic horror is fairly milquetoast. Luckily, as the movie goes on, it gives way to something far more interesting and far darker. It has its issues but they are fairly minor. This is a horror movie that punches well above its weight.

Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight

Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.

A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.

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