Hellbender

Synopsis

A spooky forest, a monstrous witch going up in flames, a mother-and-teen music duo cranking out a ferocious rock song—that’s just the beginning of this freaky coming-of-age occult horror film. Conceived, directed, and acted by the Adams family (The Deeper You Dig), Hellbender follows lonely adolescent Izzy who lives with her loving, if overbearing, mom in a secluded woodland home. Although the two share a largely harmonious bond, tensions begin to rise after Izzy encounters some kids her age in a nearby house, setting in motion a series of revelations about her personal health and her ancient mystical ancestry. With echoes of The Wicker Man, Raw, and Midsommar, Hellbender is a wholly unique, deeply unsettling watch that explores the frightening complexities of mother-daughter relationships.