Sundance Film Festival 2025 – Caring for an ailing parent is tough, especially if their behavior transforms and becomes increasing erratic. In writer/director Joanna Fernandez’s harrowing short The Things We Keep, tension between a daughter and her estranged mother erupts as the film evolves into an unsettling monster movie.

The short stars Rebecca Holopter as Kate, who’s forced into the caretaker position. Kate’s mother, Sheila (Jenny O’Hara), is a hoarder, and Kate struggles to pack up the mess of belongings. The house setting is incredibly effective. Sheila’s home is a mess, with stacks of dirty dishes, rats that scurry across the floors and counters, and other junk that litters nearly every room. There’s a sense that Kate will drown in all of the clutter if she doesn’t manage to pack it up, trash it, or maybe both. Everything about the home feels cramped and suffocating.

Sheila’s struggle with hoarding and the abhorrent state of her home can be read as a metaphor for her deteriorating mental state. Her behavior, including her actions towards Kate, vary wildly. During a few moments, she shows her daughter affection and gratitude. Then, she suddenly lashes out, even smacking Kate in the face. The strain of this relationship clearly weighs on Kate, who’s at her breaking point in the caretaker role. Both Holopter and O’Hara really turn in fine performances here, especially considering how much their mood and attitudes fluctuate during this short runtime.

As much as this film focuses on a mother and daughter relationship, it’s also a creature feature. It begins with a crack in the wall, which grows into a black substance that spreads. Kate eventually hears a heartbeat. The substance transforms again into a full-blown creature. Fernandez was wise to keep the monster mostly hidden. It slinks and creeps in corners and dashes across the floor. Its reveal does come at the climax, but it’s scarier when it’s not fully shown.

The Things We Keep may have a monster, but it functions best as an examination of a strained mother and daughter relationship. The film underscores the stress of caring for an ailing parent especially when a creature lurks in the house. This is a monster movie with a very human story.