Summary
In this Filipino folklore film, don’t trust the flesh-eating faeries. A disturbing tale of suffering and conflict.
We’re now fully into Autumn with pumpkin spice lattes and horror films galore. Prime Video have released an original production called In My Mother’s Skin. Set in the Philippines at the end of World War II, In My Mother’s Skin follows the story of Tala, the 14-year-old daughter of a textile merchant, who is desperate to cure her dying mother. Tala seeks out a mysterious fairy who gives her a magical insect to help cure her mother. Unbeknownst to her, though, the fairy turns out to be seriously evil and plans to devour them all.
Directed by Kenneth Dagatan, this folk horror film is a cautionary tale about trusting an enemy. There are themes of coming-of-age, religion, war, conflict, and children’s suffering.
In My Mother’s Skin review and plot summary
We’re introduced to Tala (Felicity Kyle Napuli), the young daughter of a wealthy Filipino family who are stranded in a mansion while her father goes off to fight in the conflict. Her mother (Beauty Gonzalez) comes down with a mysterious ailment, and Tala trusts a forest fairy to help them, only for things to go drastically wrong.
READ: Skin in the Game Review
This film feels in the same realm as Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, from 2006, with mystical, magical, evil concepts, and a young girl’s plight for help. A Western comparison might be tales such as Hansel and Gretel — children forced to endure adult experiences (there is even a scene where the fairy magics a multitude of gorgeous looking foods for the girl to indulge and take — but it comes with a price.) It’s shot very much at night, very dimly lit during the brief day scenes, truly encapsulating the horror genre and heightening the family’s vulnerability.
The costume design and visuals capture the imagination. For some, it might seem like B-style, but the film does well to pull off the costumes and makeup. There’s no over-the-top or tacky CGI used, which I appreciate.
The fairy’s look is like something from a festival, with a bright, colorful, crazy costume — whilst visually stunning, she does still give a distrusting vibe and you know something seriously bad is going to happen. The fairy is something between a genie and a shapeshifter but ultimately is a deceiver, something not to be trusted.
The acting is top-notch — the two main children do a fantastic job of telling this story. Tala, especially, is compelling in her performance, and to lead such a powerful story at a young age is commendable.
A child’s suffering might be too much for some, but it’s the child’s innocence and vulnerability that drive this story, otherwise, you would not feel the compassion and be as disturbed as you are watching. The story reflects how a broken home or lack of parents can be harmful to children; and how they end up trusting the wrong people and end up on a dangerous path. It showcases the vulnerability and trusting nature of children, and how when they are brought into adult conflicts, all that changes. Also, the common phrase “be careful what you wish for.”
Is In My Mother’s Skin worth watching?
Rich in cultural iconography, the film is able to bring storybook-style horror to life with historical, and political references, and is a must-watch for all horror/fantasy fans. The film has a respectable runtime of one hour and forty minutes and the time flies.
What did you think of In My Mother’s Skin? Comment below.
