Huesera The Bone Woman(2022)(Review)[Foreign Friday]

Valeria has long dreamed of being a mother. Her and her husband, Raul, have tried for a long time for pregnancy and have finally had success. However, instead of being happy, something is off… and Valeria fears that something is trying to harm her and her soon-to-be baby. When she feels all hope is lost, she turns to a coven of witches in hope of an answer and relief.

This film is a psychological horror film by writer/director Michelle Garza Cervera. It is a very personal story about the anxieties of approaching motherhood, the fear of our past demons resurfacing and attacking the ones we love, the depression of us feeling as if we are losing ourselves, the guilt of our inner voice vs our outer voice, and a possible entity that may either actually exist or simply be a representation of every negative emotion all at once. It has a relatively moderate-to-slow pace that lets the slow burn hurt and build up without losing its grip on the audience.

Some of the scenes are generally shocking, and some of them are spiritually powerful. There is an acrid scent of desperation and loathe that emanates from this film and latches on to the viewer. As the film slowly unfolds, we watch as everyone in her life begins to resent and fear her – including herself. When she feels her home is no longer safe, she finds solace somewhere she shouldn’t be. When that place no longer feels safe either, she turns to a coven of witches that her aunt knows who accompany her on a sort of soul-search that leaves us with a finale that almost gives us more questions than it does answers.

The psychological aspect of the film really comes into play all throughout, but you do begin to question if she is the one doing this to herself. You question if she is conscious of the choices she is making from day to day. And you go on an emotional roller-coaster where you analyze whether or not you truly wish her the best. But alongside this there is also some very scary images and set pieces that give you the creeps and prolong your engagement. It’s honestly rather well done. There’s a lot of bones cracking and crying, so if you’re squeamish with either just be prepared.

At its core, this film is heart breaking, mean spirited, and dreadful – but all in a good way. I would not suggest this film if you were going through a depressive episode, but it’s a very engrossing and rich story from a budding writer & director who leaves a stamp with her heritage and personal struggles etched onto the screen. I’m very excited to see what she has next to offer us.

4/5
“Huesera: The Bone Woman” is currently streaming on Shudder.

‘Til Next Time,
Mike Cleopatra