Movies & Shows Similar to Mother, May I?

Description: A gothic psychological horror that plays with perceptions of reality and the supernatural. The film focuses on a mother protecting her children in an isolated house, with themes of denial and the blurred lines between the living and the dead.

Fact: The film was shot entirely on natural light or candlelight to maintain authenticity. Nicole Kidman's character was originally written for a much older actress.

Description: A haunting ghost story that explores maternal love, loss, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child. The atmospheric horror blends psychological elements with supernatural occurrences in a decaying family home setting.

Fact: Director J.A. Bayona was inspired by classic ghost stories like 'The Turn of the Screw.' The film's iconic mask was created from a cast of the actor's face.

Description: A harrowing psychological drama about maternal guilt and the nature of evil. The non-linear narrative explores a mother's fraught relationship with her troubled son, building to a devastating climax.

Fact: Tilda Swinton didn't meet the actor playing teenage Kevin until their first scene together to maintain tension. The film was shot in just 30 days.

Description: Explores themes of grief, mental illness, and the supernatural through a haunting, psychological horror lens. The film delves into the strained relationship between a mother and her troubled child, creating an atmosphere of dread and emotional turmoil.

Fact: The Babadook was originally a short film before being expanded into a feature. The creature's design was inspired by early 20th-century silent film monsters.

Description: A claustrophobic horror mystery that gradually reveals its supernatural elements. The film creates tension through its confined setting and the slow unraveling of a disturbing truth about the titular character.

Fact: The autopsy scenes were so realistic they made crew members faint. The filmmakers consulted with real forensic pathologists for accuracy.

Description: A complex horror film blending supernatural elements with family drama and cultural folklore. The story follows a father's desperate attempts to save his daughter from a mysterious illness with possible demonic origins.

Fact: The film's exorcism scene was performed by a real shaman. Director Na Hong-jin spent three years researching Korean shamanism for authenticity.

Description: A chilling psychological horror that examines moral dilemmas, family dynamics, and the concept of sacrifice. The film's clinical, detached style creates an atmosphere of creeping dread as a family faces an impossible choice.

Fact: The film's title references the Greek myth of Iphigenia. All the surgical scenes were supervised by real surgeons for accuracy.

Description: A deeply unsettling exploration of family trauma, inherited mental illness, and supernatural horror. The film builds tension through slow-burn storytelling and disturbing imagery, focusing on a family unraveling under mysterious and terrifying circumstances.

Fact: The miniature houses featured in the film were all built by hand by the art department. The film's most shocking scene was filmed in one continuous take.

Description: Examines grief, toxic relationships, and psychological breakdown through the lens of folk horror. The bright, daylight setting creates an unsettling contrast with the disturbing events, while the protagonist's emotional journey mirrors themes of maternal loss and rebirth.

Fact: The flower dress worn in the final scene weighed over 50 pounds. All the background cult members were actual Swedish actors who didn't speak English to enhance authenticity.

Description: A horror film that uses supernatural elements to explore dementia and the fear of losing one's mind. The decaying family home becomes a metaphor for mental deterioration and intergenerational trauma.

Fact: The director based the story on her personal experiences with her grandmother's dementia. The house set was built to be slightly asymmetrical to enhance unease.