Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Valeria's joy at becoming a first-time mother is quickly taken away when she's cursed by a sinister entity. As danger closes in, she's forced deeper into a chilling world of dark magic that threatens to consume her.
Huesera is a striking debut from Michelle Garland that stands out in the folk horror space for its deeply personal, culturally specific Mexican imagery and its unflinching exploration of maternal ambivalence and queer identity. The bone-cracking body horror visuals are genuinely unsettling and cinematographically inventive, and the film's folkloric roots give it a strong sense of place and originality. The acting is solid, anchored by Natalia Solián's committed lead performance. However, the plot loses momentum in its middle section and the resolution feels rushed and somewhat unsatisfying, undercutting the atmospheric tension the film works hard to build.