Mother of Flies

(dirs. John Adams, Zelda Adams & Toby Poser)

By: Dave Hughes

The Adams-Poser family has successfully carved out a unique niche within the landscape of low cost modern horror. Since their 2019 breakthrough with The Deeper You Dig, the collective has built a reputation for a "family-first" approach where creative roles are shared and outside interference is nonexistent. Their latest project, Mother of Flies, represents their most significant release to date. Currently streaming on Shudder and generating significant buzz among genre enthusiasts, the film is a disturbing, body-horror-driven exploration of grief. It examines the desperate lengths an individual will go to when faced with a terminal diagnosis.

Mother of Flies follows a father and daughter willing to go to any lengths to cure the daughter’s recurring cancer. The protagonist, Mickey, is contacted in her dreams by a mysterious healer with the characteristics of a witch. Her father, Jake, agrees to support her quest for a miracle cure despite the unconventional circumstances. Once the pair arrives at the witch’s isolated residence, however, it becomes increasingly clear that this supernatural intervention is far more sinister than they initially imagined.

One of the film's most successful elements is the rich context provided for Solveig, the mysterious witch in the woods. Viewers are treated to flashbacks and lore that explain her origins and history, offering a refreshing and sophisticated subversion of the traditional "witch" trope. This depth fosters a unique relationship between Solveig and Mickey, allowing for intricate dialogue regarding the complexities of life and death. Toby Poser (Where the Devil Roams) delivers a powerhouse performance, handling the film’s most philosophical segments with a gravitas that makes the conversation about mortality feel authentic while also making the viewer look at their own existence.

Body horror is a difficult genre to navigate. While many dismiss it as merely disgusting, or a shortcut to cheap scares, Mother of Flies utilizes the medium as an essential thematic weapon. The overlapping concepts of terminal illness, grief, and occult intervention lend themselves perfectly to this visceral style of filmmaking. The invasive nature of the practical effects mirrors the destructive reality of the diseases that infect the body. By making the horror so deeply personal, the film ensures that the physical decay on screen perfectly matches the emotional decay of the characters.

The environment serves as an unspoken character in Mother of Flies. New York’s Catskills Mountains provide an unsettling exterior for every shot, creating a persistent sense that unseen eyes are watching from the dense treeline. This setting is beautiful yet haunting, reflecting the vast isolation Mickey feels while fighting her disease. The cinematography captures a duality within the woods, where the natural beauty is constantly undercut by a sense of danger and trepidation regarding what truly exists in the shadows.

Target Score: 9/10 Mother of Flies provides the directors John Adams, Zelda Adams and Toby Poser with their most significant release and stands as their strongest work to date. By tackling massive themes of grief, love, and the complex bonds that tie families together, the film creates a disturbing and memorable addition to the "witch in the woods" subgenre. It is a masterful, unsettling experience that proves high-concept horror can be achieved through a deeply personal lens.