Mother, May I?

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1:32

Mother, May I?

2023

1h 39m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

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18 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Emmett wants to clean and flip his recently deceased mother's house: get in, get out, and avoid any trauma still lingering from when she abandoned him as a young child. Anya, his fiancé, see's this as an opportunity to finally force Emmett to deal with his trauma because she believes it is preventing him from being the partner she needs. So she convinces him to take mushrooms to get him to let go. But something strange happens while they're tripping: she starts behaving like his mother. The next morning he wakes up sober, but she still won't drop the act... Anya loves playing games -- is this her taking it too far? Or did his mother's spirit somehow possess her?

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Leslie Felperin

Guardian

Aug 15, 2023

4/5

Vannicelli doesn’t quite pull everything together in the last act, but there’s an immense amount of craft on display as well as some terrific acting from the two leads who play off one another so well.

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Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

Jul 24, 2023

It’s a handsome-looking ghost story, about a man who was haunted by his mother even when she alive.

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Rebecca Sayce

FILMHOUNDS Magazine

Jul 24, 2025

4/5

Filled with stunning visuals masking a dark, dangerous undercurrent, Mother, May I? is a unique ghost story that is sure to bore into your brain.

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Jared Mobarak

Hey, Have You Seen ...?

Sep 22, 2023

7/10

Because the scariest part of what's happening isn't that they might lose themselves to that dread. It's that they will recognize who it is they are becoming is who they actually need to be.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Aug 21, 2023

4/5

…a demanding, but rewarding psychodrama that plays with some traditional horror ideas, but elevates itself by going for something more restrained…

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Aug 18, 2023

B

Suspense over childhood trauma becomes mind-boggling.

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Chris J

@chridtggrvt Oct 25, 2026

Enjoyed. Definite boundary bending in an interesting. Recommended.

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Mary S.

@maryestein99 Feb 15, 2026

Strong acting skills for both protagonists with good plot twists! Leaves the viewer on the edge of their seat.

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Andy B

@RT60959357 Dec 26, 2025

Mother, May I was a fat,steaming pile of art house garbage....I tried so hard to finish it,and by some mericle, I did but it was bad....Boring,self indulgent nonsense..My girlfriend and I both agree, it may be the worst movie we've ever watched....And we've seen A Lot of movies....Please, I beg you, save your time...Life is too short to waste it on crap like this. You'd be better off watching paint dry.....seriously.

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Stephen G

@patient1 Oct 2, 2025

This movie is disturbing on so many levels, had me angry and confused. But I couldn't seem to turn away from it and hope for something to ease my mind from the madness and bedevilment of this story. I truly hope others will give this a watch and see what their interpretation of the madness of the story lead them to feel. I'm conflicted and yet somewhat relieved.

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Ricardo d

@RT43154676 Sep 2, 2024

Temos boas atuações principalmente da Anya/mãe. Temos alguns momentos inteligentes no roteiro, principalmente o início com um humor mais ácido, que se perde com o tempo do filme. O fim é bem ameno, esperava por mais.

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Craig B

@Boundsy Aug 16, 2024

If you can settle for a very slow ghost story, this may be for you. Very little is going on in Mother, May I. Sure, the lead performances are solid enough, but if you are looking for a good horror movie, you've come to the wrong place.

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Laurence Vannicelli

Director

Holland Roden

Anya

Kyle Gallner

Emmett

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Daphne Gaines

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Mother, May I?: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Emmett wants to clean and flip his recently deceased mother's house: get in, get out, and avoid any trauma still lingering from when she abandoned him as a young child. Anya, his fiancé, see's this as an opportunity to finally force Emmett to deal with his trauma because she believes it is preventing him from being the partner she needs. So she convinces him to take mushrooms to get him to let go. But something strange happens while they're tripping: she starts behaving like his mother. The next morning he wakes up sober, but she still won't drop the act... Anya loves playing games -- is this her taking it too far? Or did his mother's spirit somehow possess her?

Director: Laurence Vannicelli
Producer: Bogdan George Apetri, Daniel Brandt, Cole Eckerle, Dane Eckerle, Daisy Long, Holland Roden, Sam Slater
Screenwriter: Laurence Vannicelli
Distributor: Dark Sky Films
Production Co: Slow Blink, Burn Later Prods., Cine Primo, Bad Grey
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 21, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 21, 2023
Runtime: 1h 39m

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