You Are Not My Mother

I don't mind slow-burn horror, especially if it has deep nuances, interesting plot points, and a captivating atmosphere. You Are Not My Mother has some of those qualities, but driving at a really snail's pace apparently only makes the film has difficulties living up to its promising build-up.

Char's mother Angela is acting strange. Angela rarely emerges from the bedroom, has trouble completing routine tasks like getting groceries and driving Char to school, and she is getting worse. The thing is Char really needs her mom right now. She is being bullied at school and needs someone to turn to for support and advice. This is when Angela unexpectedly disappears and then reappears in a hostile mood.

You Are Not My Mother is an intriguing, quirky, and female driven dive into Irish folklore, the supernatural, mental illness, and the rougher side of Dublin. Because of a low film budget there is not a lot of depth to the dialogue or acting, but there are bright spots too like the female focused story and the acting of Hazel Doupe (Char).

World premiere seen at the Toronto international film festival.

This is a real good slow burn horror. People like to give bad reviews because it makes them feel emboldened. Pretty childish. Very good story that unfolds properly w a solid script. If you're into folklore coupled w horror then you're in good hands.

This film doesn't break major new ground, but it does inflect well what is often handled poorly in other types of films. First, it treats the confusion of human behaviors well, leaving the open sections with plenty of doubt. Second, it doesn't explode elements with a heavy hammer to reinforce the scares. Third, the human element isn't forgotten in this story. I appreciated the subtlety of the main actor in her portrayal of this misunderstood adolescent as well as the supporting antagonist actor who displayed realistic development. Quiet but with some punches, I look forward to a repeat viewing to gain more into this world and characters.

What a great hidden gem of a film which needs to be heard a lot more. Hazel Doupe plays an amazing role as Char and the connection between her and her 'so called mother' was astonishing. The way you could tell Char loved Angela so much and the agony she had to say "You are not my Mother" must of really hurt.

If anybody wants to see it go watch it on Netflix whilst you have the chance. The only reason I ranked it 7 star is because I didn't feel that scared for a horror and felt more of thriller.

It really shows how mental illness on parent can affect their loved ones especially their children.