‘Mother, May I?’ Review – A Bizarre Dark Night Of The Soul

Whether a movie hits or misses the mark, the cardinal rule is, don’t be dull. Director Laurence Vannicelli certainly got the memo, as his second feature film Mother, May I? is a bizarre dark night of the soul. Emmett (Kyle Gallner) is not having the best time of things, having lost his estranged mother, and dealing with relationship issues with his fiancée Anya (Holland Roden). Weirdly, Emmett inherits his mother’s house. Seeing this as a chance to make some money, he decides to check it out with the goal of selling it. Tensions in the relationships only get worse as strange things begin happening. After a night of taking psychedelic mushrooms, Anya starts acting strangely. Soon, she starts dressing like his mother, talking like her and developing bad habits like smoking. Is Emmett’s mother possessing Anya, or has she lost touch with reality?

Mother, May I? is brilliant in how it’s able to incorporate horror genre tropes, but in a way that uses those against the audience. When Emmett and Anya settle into their newly acquired house, they hear all the stereotypical creaks and groans. The moody camerawork and score further cements these genre hallmarks. Whether or not there are supernatural forces at play is left ambiguous and up to how you interpret what’s going on. Yet it’s a nice way to subvert expectations, in its setup. This movie throws a lot at its audience and Vannicelli can’t decide if the movie is a ghost story, a twisted drama or a psycho-thriller. Normally, these kitchen sink movies can be daunting and frustrating. Yet, there is a level of skill and artistry on display that simply makes it work. From a technical standpoint, this movie is extremely well shot and edited.

At the core, this is a dark poem expressing the complexities of motherhood, estranged family ties that can cut as to the bone. Even if Emmett’s mother isn’t haunting her former house, her presence is very much felt throughout. Her pictures, artwork and even her literal voice (by way of home movies) invade every corner of the house. This notion of this unbearable, even smothering mother, dominating even after death is unnerving. In the larger sense, it’s apt if not on the nose metaphor that is relatable for a lot of audience members. This theme is also explored by way of Anya, her possible pregnancy, and how Emmett feels regarding this. Not to mention, its strongly implied that Anya is dealing with her own mommy issues.

The biggest glue that holds this strange film together is the performances, specifically from its leads. A lot of asked of “Scream King” Kyle Gallner (Scream V, Jennifer’s Body), seeing how he is a big part of the film’s emotional centerpiece. Thankfully, he really shines here. Gallner pushes himself beyond his modern-chain smoking James Dean-type and turns in a complex and layered turn as Emmett. Playing Anya is Holland Roden, who plays dual roles. Roden, like Gallner, is brilliant and dazzles in how she can take things so close to over-the-top but never crosses the line. Watching her go from mousy Anya to what is basically the embodiment of Emmett’s mother, a smoking outspoken mid-century smother, is really remarkable. Gallner and Roden have a great deal of chemistry, and you really do believe them as a couple. This makes it more tragic when you see how decayed their relationship has become and how worse it gets by the film’s finale.

As much as there is to enjoy about Mother, May I?, it does cram in some narrative threads that feel like filler. The creepy neighbor for example is set up in a way that feels like he’s going to be important to the plot. You are led to think he might be Emmett’s father, yet this is plainly stated as false. It also glosses over some seemingly important plot points. Overall, it’s a lack of focus that is the biggest flaw in this otherwise interesting and eerie outing.

Mother, May I? may be flawed in some of its plotting, yet its endlessly entertaining. It takes some huge swings, and you have to admire that. Even outside of its more bombastic and over-the-top aspects, there is a nasty and skin-crawling mediation on motherhood and abandonment.

Mother, May I? is currently available on Digital platforms courtesy of Dark Sky Films.