Sundance Review: IN MY MOTHER'S SKIN Is a Dark Horror Film Based on Filipino Folklore
While at the Sundance Film Festival, I caught a crazy dark horror movie titled In My Mother’s Skin. It told quite a disturbing story that is inspired by Filipino folklore. The Philippines is filled with all kinds of ancient lore and nightmarish legends and mythology. I’m surprised that we don’t see horror films actually tackle these stories because they're fascinating and scary as hell.
Needless to say, I was excited to see that there was a Filipino horror film at Sundance this year, and for me, it did not disappoint! This was a solid film that was filled with an intense slow burn that builds up to a horrific blood and gore-filled ending. This story eats at the audience as it plays out and when it’s over it sticks with you.
The movie is set in the Philippines in 1945 as World War II is coming to an end. The story centers on a young girl and her younger brother who are left in their home with their sick mother as their father leaves to find help, as the Japanese are in the area looking for gold that they believe he stole. As they are struggling to live and survive, the daughter comes across a sinister fairy who offers help in their dire situation. As you might imagine, after meeting the fairy, their nightmarish situation gets even worse.
The synopsis explains an affluent family who lives stranded in their country mansion and is tormented by the occupying Japanese soldiers who are losing grip over the island nation. “Rumors spread that the patriarch, Aldo, stole Japanese gold and stashed it somewhere nearby. Aldo knows that his family will be slaughtered if they find the riches, so he escapes to seek help from the Americans. Soon they fear he will never return while sickness overtakes the mother. Searching for help, their young daughter, Tala, mistakenly places her trust in a beguiling, flesh-eating fairy, who desires to consume them all.”
One of the highlights of the film is its young star Felicity Kyle Napuli, who plays the little girl Tala. This whole film falls on her shoulders and the performance of this character would make or break the film. Well, Felicity delivered an outstanding performance! It’s not easy to carry an entire movie, she was so awesomely impressive! This kid has got some serious talent and it would be wonderful to see her acting career take off.
The movie was written and directed by Kenneth Dagatan and it’s explained the movie “imbues this ghastly fairy tale with an intriguing mix of Catholicism and Filipino folklore to conjure up a nightmare vision of a war-torn land. Dagatan’s cast fully commit to this dark fantasy, led by Felicity Kyle Napuli as our young heroine, and the divine villainess played by Jasmine Curtis-Smith. In My Mother’s Skin delivers on impeccable craft, fantastical special effects, and enough fly-covered oozing flesh to be seared permanently into your memory.”
I 100% agree with that and this movie had stuck around in my head for a while after watching it. The movie isn’t for everyone, but if you enjoy slow-burn horror movies that will disturb you, then this is for you!
