Being in a relationship can be complicated when there are childhood traumas that continue to mark adult life. But, what happens when your partner wants to intervene without the experience to do so? Completely ignoring the problem, playing doctor with the emotional sore. Mother, May I? also plays around with the idea and sort of brings an interesting analysis.

Emmett (Kyle Gallner) has just inherited his mother’s house, but two griefs consume him: the difficult past he lived with her, and the lack of guidance on how to feel in the face of present death. To put his torment aside, he decides to sell the house. But before he does, he’ll spend time at the remote childhood residence with his fiancée, Anya (Holland Roden), to check on the property. During this time, Anya will insistently look for a way to help him heal his wounds with elaborate techniques that could damage their relationship. Between mushrooms, alcohol and home videos affecting Emmett’s memories, both will be subjected to a nightmare holiday that’ll bring back the dead in a series of aggressive interactions, leaving a question in the air: is Emmett’s mother still around?

Mother, May I? is a psychological thriller with a lot of influence from late 70s films. There’s something rewarding about slow camera zooms because it allows you to see the characters’ surroundings before redirecting your attention to their reactions. Even the wide shots where you can appreciate the landscape and surroundings of the house help a lot to make it look like the characters are completely secluded and there is no way they can be rescued from any situation– it could even give a gloomy vibe thinking they might cause each other’s end.

It is worth mentioning that, despite being brutal between the characters, the dialogue can become abrupt at times due to the sudden cuts between some scenes. The plot sequence is good, with some ups and downs, but it’s digestible and keeps the mystery alive throughout the film.

The performances are what stands out the most from the entire feature. The chemistry between Kyle Gallner and Holland Roden is atrocious and gripping enough to make the viewer believe there is love and spite at the same time. The development of their characters is done with a lot of romance and grace, to the point it seems to become personal to the writer– it doesn’t seem to be a half-baked afterthought as it displays their emotions to a full extent. Roden is the one who does most of the work for interpreting two completely different characters– goes from hot to cold in minutes with a chance for the audience to enjoy the transition.

Mother, May I? analyzes the variables of intervening in couple problems– if the spirit of a dead relative ever takes possession of your partner, and shows a series of achievements in their failed interactions. Despite presenting recently-popular themes (childhood issues with their mothers), and having an outcome that leaves more unknowns than answers, the final product is satisfying by allowing the characters to recognize what has led them to their conclusion.

8 OUT OF 10 MASKS