As their food supply dwindles and the possibility of their father’s return grows dim, Tala is lured in by a flesh-eating fairy who slips into their home and begins cursing the family.
In My Mother’s Skin is an unflinchingly dark film that mirrors the brutal reality faced by Filipino people during the war. From the outset, the cruelty and barbarism of the Japanese soldiers is explicitly stated, setting the tone as we enter into the world of the story. Though the characters live physically removed from the front lines, they are still surrounded by similar cruelties. We learn at the end of the film, that the Japanese soldiers have destroyed the nearby village.
The film draws clear parallels to Pan’s Labyrinth and Alice in Wonderland—from its characters and setting to its themes and narrative structure. It never feels derivative and stands as a wholly original work, weaving its own mythology and emotional weight into a story that is both haunting and unforgettable.
The film blends the still, creeping aesthetic of Southeast Asian arthouse cinema with the drama and theatricality in performances often found in mainstream South Asian films. The practical aspects of the film are well executed as well. The single location is used to great affect. It never feels limiting or boring. The set design, cinematography, and natural beauty of the landscape come together with vibrant color. Every frame is striking, carefully composed and rich with visual storytelling.
Religious imagery looms quietly but unmistakably throughout the film. From the crucifixes on the walls to the church-like structure of the home, Christian iconography underscores the characters' internal and external suffering. We see the characters pray to an alter in the home conveniently located right beside the mother’s bedroom which later becomes where she is trapped. These symbols and religion itself act as silent witnesses to their unraveling, reflecting the collision between faith, fear, and the unexplainable.
The fairy herself seems like a corrupted angel or demon. Her elaborate costume evokes holiness or the imagery of biblically accurate angels even. The mother's wardrobe, too, beautifully adds to the films visuals. Her clothing, often light and flowing, even refracts light at one pivotal moment in the film.
These elements—costume, setting, color, symbolism—aren’t just decorative. They work together to create a world where the sacred and the monstrous coexist. In My Mother’s Skin is a beautiful arthouse horror film that must be seen and experienced by more people!
Show less...
