by Victoria Potenza, Staff Writer

Brooklyn Horror Film Fest 2022 has come to an end. This year brought an amazing combination of features from all over the world, well curated shorts blocks, impressive repertory screenings, and amazing events. There were also many filmmakers in attendance who were able to share their perspectives on the films they made and offer audience members a deeper understanding of what they just watched. If you have the opportunity to attend the festival, attending in person is such an incredible experience. The horror community involved in the Fest is very down to earth, fun, and have a true love of the genre. Make sure to follow Brooklyn Horror on social media and check out their website to see all of the incredible offerings they will have in the future. Here are several of the new releases that were available to check out, and that left a major impression. 

Mother Superior (dir. Marie Alice Wolfszahn, 2022) 

Witches, Nurses, Nazis, Oh My! If you are interested in a combination of gothic horror and historical fiction then this dark and atmospheric tale might be right for you.  Mother Superior follows Sigrun (Isabella Händler) , a young nurse who has taken on a job caring for Baroness Heidenreich (Inge Maux). Sigrun has an ulterior motive however, she believes the Baroness holds the keys to finding out who her mother was. While she tries her best to search for the information she seeks, the Baroness sees Sigrun as an opportunity to finish the experiments she was working on during WWII and awaken a dark power. 

The film looks great and utilizes chilling effects so well that it is easy to get swept up in the imagery. Much of the viewing experience feels like a dream, but when you tune into the overarching story there are a lot of unique details to grasp onto. The use of WWII history and the Nazi obsession of the occult is used to great effect, to a point where you might question who you align yourself with. Witchcraft overall has been recontextualized to the point where often times it is expected that the witches embody feminist ideals. But what if they are a group of witches that simply embody white feminist ideals? Wolfszahn’s film is filled to the brim with history and social commentary. So while you could get swept up in the imagery, sticking with the overarching themes and story make for great discussion points.

Mother, May I? (dir. Laurence Vannicelli, 2022)

Kyle Gallner is having a moment in genre film right now and it should be recognized. With Scream, Smile, Dinner in America, and now Mother, May I? We get the chance to see how Gallner wields his acting chops in a variety of films. In this movie we see him as Emmett, a man is grappling with the death of his mother who gave him up as a child. She leaves him her house in the will so he and his fiancee Anya (

Holland Roden) go up to clean out the space and prepare to sell it. While they are there Anya begins to take on the look and traits of his mother, potentially giving Emmett a chance to unpack years of trauma. 

Mother, May I? has so much raw emotion behind it. That coupled with the uncertainty of where the movie is heading, makes for an effective and unsettling viewing experience. Holland Roden gives two incredible performances both as Anya and as Emmett’s mother with her acting and the subtle styling choices used it makes you uncertain of who exactly you are watching at various points during the film. This also becomes a meditation of people who love each other but may not be able to give the other what they need, people on different points in their therapeutic journeys, and just how complicated love is in all of its forms. 

Megalomaniac (dir. Karim Ouelhaj, 2022)

Content Warning: rape, torture, fatphobia, incest 

Megalomaniac is not a film for the casual horror fan. It is a dark, bleak, and disturbing picture that will linger in your brain long after it's over. Felix and Martha are siblings whose father was a legendary serial killer. Felix has followed in his father’s footsteps and has tapped into his murderous rage. On the other hand, Martha seems to live as normal of a life as she can. She works as a janitor and mostly keeps to herself, and even though she and Felix share the same home, she is kept at a distance from his “work.” Things change for Martha after a violent attack by one of her co-workers. This awakens a familial rage within her that will take her down her own, very personal,  violent path. This is not a movie for everyone. It is so bleak that it was hard to sit through the 118 minute runtime in one sitting. 

There is gorgeous filmmaking and several nightmare sequences that are impressive to watch. However, the content can make it hard to appreciate all of these technical aspects of the film. Eline Schumacher’s performance as Martha is heartbreaking but also truly horrifying at times, making you check your own feelings of empathy for this character. Whether you like the film or not, it will certainly leave its mark on you, one that will be hard to shake off. 

Give Me an A (dir. Hannah Alline, Avital Ash, Bonnie Discepolo, 2022)

Roe v. Wade was overturned on June 24, 2022. Almost immediately after that the team behind Give Me an A, began assembling filmmakers and stories and began filming. This anthology is about as close as you can get to a real time reaction to Dobbs v. Jackson from women in horror. This is jam packed with 15 films, each with a unique perspective on one of the most terrifying things to happen in the United States this year. Audiences can also look forward to memorable performances by Alyssa Milano, Sean Gunn, Milana Vayntrub, Jackie Tohn, and Gina Torres. 

Going in, it should be mentioned that the anthology is very cis-centric, whether this be because of who they could assemble in such a short time or because of other reasons, it is unclear. So there is still a gap waiting to be filled by LGBTQ+ filmmakers. The shorts that are included run the gambit of initial reactions, to musings on a dystopian future, to the wish that men be held accountable for their own actions. There are a variety of segments that stand out, “DTF” reflects on women using the law to their advantage. "mediEVIL" uses the combination of medical horror and folk horror imagery for a chilling yet quiet tale. "Crucible Island" gives Gina Torres (GLOW) a chance to hold fuck boys accountable. And "The Last Store" plays on fears about what would happen in a scenario where illegal abortions become commonplace. The variety of tones show how personal the Supreme Court decision was to so many people. 

Huesera (dir. Michelle Garza Cervera, 2022) 

There is so much that can be said about Huesera, but first and foremost it is an incredible directorial debut for Michelle Garza Cervera and is impressive in a variety of ways. The movie follows Valeria (Natalia Solián) , a newlywed who is hoping to have a child with her husband Raul (Alfonso Dosal). When their prayers are finally answered and the couple begins planning for the arrival of their child, Valeria begins to feel a sinister presence following her. She begins to see disturbing images that no one else is able to see. While the ones whom she loves the most begin to be disturbed by her behavior, Valeria finds solace in the arms of a former lover Octavia (Mayra Batalla). The movie is a wonderful blend of folklore, pregnancy horror, and queer representation. 

This is a gorgeous film, filled with lush colors and horrific imagery. If you have a chance to see this in theaters it is worth it. The sound design is incredible and something that might not be as noticeable with a typical home movie set up. It is so subtle but adds to much to the feelings of a creepy terror in the backdrop of the story. Mayra Batalla and Natalia Solián give amazing performances and have one of the best queer sex scenes from this year. If  you like films such as Rosemary’s Baby, Prevenge, Swallow and other looks at pregnancy horror, you are sure to appreciate Huesera and its own unique take on this subgenre. 

The new release selection of features was a joy. They also had several Fulci repertory screenings that featured Lucio Fulci films as well as French Extremity films including hard to find movies like the controversial Baise-Moi. They also had some great events including, Certified Forgotten podcast doing a live episode with Caryn Coleman (Founder & Executive Director of The Future of Film is Female).  There was something for every horror fan to enjoy at Brooklyn Horror Fest. Make sure to keep an eye out for these features making their way to theaters and VOD and try to support Brooklyn Horror Fest and the amazing work they are doing.