By Jeffrey Sipe and Nina Rodríguez
Michelle Garza’s debut feature “Huesera” is a haunting and powerful exploration of the uncertainties and complexities of becoming a mother—delivered with stunning art direction and a terrifying sound design that will stick with you long after the credits roll.
The film follows Valeria (Natalia Solián), a newlywed furniture maker in Mexico City, who longs for a child to complete her picture-perfect family. In the first scene, we see her praying to the Virgin Guadalupe but once her wish is granted Valeria’s pregnancy turns into a nightmare as she is haunted by visions of a bony demoness, a menace that threatens her mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
What follows is a gripping tale of maternal horror as Valeria’s relationships crumble under the weight of her fear and uncertainty.
Masterfully crafted by first-time filmmaker Garza, the exceptional cinematography and art direction of the film capture the eeriness behind Mexico City’s instagrammable apartments while it is the film’s sound design that turns Valeria’s nightmares into a visceral body horror experience.
«Huesera» follows the sub-genre of “Rosemary’s Baby” and «The Babadook» in its depiction of pregnancy as body horror, while the film also offers a powerful critique of the nuclear family challenging the notion that domesticity is the only path to happiness and fulfillment.
“Huesera” offers a nuanced social commentary in its compassionate portrayal of the trials of pregnancy reminding us that motherhood is as much about loss as it is about gain. And for Garza, the horror genre is the perfect vehicle to explore these complex issues. “I think all of us have had panic attacks at night, the kind that keep us awake. If I choose to be a mother, how will it affect me? What if I don’t take it so well? Motherhood confuses all of us,” she explains, “whether we are mothers ourselves or not.” And horror seemed the ideal genre to address these issues.
The only flashback, which shows Valeria as a rebellious teen running from the police with her girlfriend, highlights the tension between conformity and nonconformity that underlies the film’s exploration of contemporary femininity. “I am a feminist woman, but beyond the label as such for me it was important that in the Mexican horror genre there was a little seed that challenged a certain imposed status that we don’t question,” Garza explains.
A captivating crowd pleaser, “Huesera” has received much acclaim since its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, where it received two awards, and has since captivated audiences at genre events like Sitges and major festivals from Busan to Toronto alike as well as taking top honors during its national premiere at Morelia.
As part of its theatrical release across the country, “Huesera” will screen at Compartimento Cinematografico in San Miguel de Allende at the end of April.
