Death is natural, and yet through sheer will and determination, we seek to move heaven and earth to stop it, especially from happening earlier than expected. Take the character of Mickey (Zelda Adams) in Mother of Flies. At a young age, this woman is given a serious cancer diagnosis and, despite treatments, faces an all-but-certain and early death. Where science cannot help her, she turns to natural medicine. Medicine from the dirt-riddled hand of a witch in the forest. As Mickey seeks a cure, strange events occur. Shadows run deep, and soon, one realizes this magic, however helpful, comes with a cost. Despite expecting a morose tale, Mother of Flies, despite unearthing plenty of creepiness, is a poignant musing on life, death, and the natural beauty of it all.
Mother of Flies is both a horror film that leans into a naturalistic element and a heartfelt drama of belief and overcoming the odds. We find Mickey reeling from a cancer diagnosis, and she is not ready to die. When modern medicine fails her, she seeks an alternative method from a mysterious recluse named Solveig (Toby Poser). This recluse is also a witch who uses dark magic. She asks Mickey to spend three days with her, calling on her special connection with death. Performing what she calls death magic, she seeks to cure Mickey, but in the process, every cure has a cost, and every curse is another’s gift.
MOTHER OF FLIES. Courtesy of John Adams. A Shudder release.
We all fear death. Despite our attempt to master the universe, there is no stopping the inevitable. And yet when the grim reaper arrives, we greet his arrival with anger, sadness, and even fury. Take a cancer diagnosis, especially a serious one, and there begins a creeping feeling of impending doom. We try treatments to try and fight back the disease; sometimes we win, even for a little while, and other times the disease wins. And yet, we opine for some special cure, a universal solvent, maybe a little magic.
On the surface, the film boasts an interesting premise: a witch practicing black magic and casting death curses in the confines of a sleepy forest. The woods are often the source of unexplained power and mystery, leading to cautionary tales or even nightmarish revelations. The movie could have run with this trope. And to an extent it does. We learn of buried secrets, a witch long thought dead, and an opening plane between the dead and the dying.
Poser is sensational. She is caring, yet creepy. This woman of the forest is as much of a mystery as are her secret healing methods. Had the film decided to make this a twisted tale of a witch snatching life from a dying woman for her own selfish purposes, it would have been nonetheless entertaining. However, the movie goes beyond the mystical old crone cliche and delivers a story of life and death.
Horror is the best genre for tackling myraid of subjects that either mystify us, or we brush off in everyday life. There is pure shock and awe (and this movie has them). Scares and terror can work and accomplish the job. Still, a film that exposes our collective fears and anxieties in a manner that is both revealing and cathartic is genuinely something special.
That is the case with Mother of Flies. This is a special film. It is grotesque in the manner in which it presents death, yet blunt for a purpose. We see the trials and fears that exist within all of us. We wrestle with the naked cruelty of life’s unfairness. The fact that this film draws on the filmmakers’ personal experiences makes the story all the more impactful.
And a note about the production crew, or I should say the family, the Adams Family. Consisting of Poser, John, Lulu, and Zelda (all of whom appear in the film), they produce, direct, write, and star in their movies. This fact, while on the surface may seem tangential, adds an excellent color and dynamic to their work. It is a family affair. The fact that they’ve committed to making horror movies is all the more impressive and downright cool.
The best horror films are those with something to say. Throughout history, from Frankenstein, Psycho, Halloween, and Hereditary, the best will release something that exists in the ether, confront a hidden trauma, or conquer a fear. Now, I am not necessarily putting this film on the same level as the aforementioned, but I am praising it for its ability to deliver something not only chilling but also profound.
Mother of Flies will be able to stream exclusively on Shudder on January 23, 2026.
This is a special film. It is grotesque in the manner in which it presents death, yet blunt for a purpose. The fact that this film draws on the filmmakers' personal experiences makes the story all the more impactful.
Writing & podcasting, for the love of movies.
His Letterboxd Favorites: The Dark Knight, Halloween, Jaws & A Christmas Story.
