A Mother’s Embrace (Abraço de Mãe)

This is slightly amended version of the Glasgow FrightFest 2025 review.

Opening in Rio de Janeiro 1973 a mother and daughter after a visit to a local fair go home where a fire breaks out. Mother is unconscious Ana is saved but has visions of a foetus.

Move forward to Rio 1996 and the city is preparing for huge storm. Ana (Marjorie Estiano) is now a firefighter (just back from sick leave), and they are on red alert, with the city’s civil defences activated.

Her team is charged with inspecting a nursing home that could be in danger of collapse. The initial response from owner Drica (Ângelo Rebelo) and manager Ulisses (Javier Drolas) is the don’t want the firefighters there. Nevertheless Ana and her team persevere their way through the crumbling building. Eventually the decision is taken that the house must be evacuated.

But no one wants to leave and even in the face of the obvious, Drica and Ulisses remain obstinate. Spotting a child Ana pursues her and begins a search of building. The team disperses and accidents begin to happen, the residents start to act oddly, as the storm intensifies then the front door is locked.

Directed by Cristian Ponce, co-written with Gabriella Capello and André Pereira, A Mother’s Embrace is a psychological horror, in a very dense setting, perfect for building up dread. That build is slow mostly centred around Ana, who was mentally badly affected by her estrangement from her mother and her death.

That’s not to say that this is just a probe into the senses, there is something nasty in the basement which comes to the fore as Ana's team begin to disappear. The setting and lighting are excellent with Ponce using these elements to expertly heighten the tension.

The film however doesn’t quite knit the psychological element with the creature feature though neither do they cancel each other out. They just sit uncomfortably while the viewer watches on. Ultimately, it’s a testing film to watch and at times frustrating.

A Mother's Embrace is on UK and Ireland digital platforms on 10 November from Blue Finch Film Releasing