You Are Not My Mother: Irish horror film replaces mom with a changeling

Last Updated on August 10, 2021

Irish filmmaker Lee Cronin had great success by digging into the legend of the changeling with his feature debut The Hole in the Ground (watch it HERE), as that film helped him secure the job of directing the latest entry in the Evil Dead franchise, Evil Dead Rise. Now we'll have the chance to see what the changeling legend can do for another Irish filmmaker, as writer/director Kate Dolan is making her own feature debut with the changeling-themed film You Are Not My Mother.

You Are Not My Mother was funded through Screen Ireland's POV funding initiative that "looks to foster distinct Irish female voices", and Bankside Films has just come on board to handle worldwide sales. As mentioned, the story is 

inspired by the ancient mythology of the changeling, a creature that takes on human form. In You Are Not My Mother, when a mother returns home after disappearing the week before Halloween, her daughter notices that her behaviour has changed and is increasingly frightening. When Halloween night arrives, the daughter realises she is the only one who can save her.

Here's another synopsis: 

Char lives in a North Dublin housing estate with her mother, Angela and her grandmother Rita. Lately her mother has been unwell and confined to her bedroom. One day, after being forced to drive Char to school Angela goes missing without a trace. The family fears the worst. However, a day later she returns and seems to be well again. Char, just happy to see her mother well again ignores her mother’s increased strange behaviour until it is too late. Something malevolent has made itself at home. Char must take action before she loses her mother forever.

The film stars Hazel Doupe, Carolyn Bracken, and Jordanne Jones.

Dolan had this to say about the project:

After an incredibly challenging year it is amazing to be able to see my debut feature You Are Not My Mother completed and start this journey with Bankside. At times it felt like we might never get to the other side. We are here now because of the support of Screen Ireland and of course the stellar work of all the cast and crew who went above and beyond and gave their all."

Bankside's Stephen Kelliher says You Are Not My Mother will "haunt audiences with its modern and compelling take on the ancient mythology of the changeling."

I look forward to watching it. The first image from the film can be seen below: