It’s always exciting when a new voice enters the horror genre. New directors are eager to leave an impact on the genre, though not all may succeed. I believe writer and director Michelle Garza Cervera is one of those directors that’ll leave a lasting impression with her debut film Huesera: The Bone Woman. The film is a terrifying examination of the reality of conforming to societal standards, struggling through motherhood, and reclaiming your identity told through folkloric horror lens.
When we first meet our protagonist Valeria (Natalia Solián), her life appears to be perfectly put together: she’s in a loving relationship with her partner Raúl (Alfonso Dual) and has just conceived her first baby. Their love is evident and her environment is calm. That is until Mother’s Day comes along, and we begin to understand how Valeria truly feels about children. Once Valeria’s stance on motherhood is questioned, the horror elements come into play. At first, the visions of spiders and deformed humanoid bodies are harmless, but they quickly become violent. As her life darkens, Valeria attempts to get rid of the evil force surrounding her while dealing with the struggles of motherhood.
Huesera: The Bone Woman is genuine in its depiction of the reality of motherhood. The film isn’t a cautionary tale about how being a mother can make or break you as a person. Instead it displays how Mexican culture pressures women into motherhood, regardless of their opinions. My partner and I, who are both Mexican Americans, fell under the same indoctrination that was instilled in us from childhood. While being parents worked for us, it doesn’t for everyone, which is one of the main themes of the film.
Valeria isn’t a horrible woman, she’s just lost. The screenplay does not frame Valeria’s character and her struggles as an issue. Paired with Solián’s great performance and the study of pressured motherhood is exquisitely done. The character of Octavia (Mayra Batalla), Valeria’s childhood friend, is also wonderfully portrayed. Octavia plays a major role in Valeria’s character study and Batalla shines in each scene. Her character became my personal favorite. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Raul. While Dual’s performance as Raul was excellent, his character could have used more screen time to fully understand his perspective on parenthood.
Valeria and Octavia’s connection stems from the outcast alternative scene. It’s a community we explore multiple times in the film. From Valeria and Octavia being kids, during an important flashback, we see how people around Valeria are comfortable in their skin. This continues over to Valeria entering a show in search of Octavia and being surrounded by people not adhering to society’s standards. Match this with the post-punk soundtrack, and the film is authentic in its presentation of this community.
Huesera: The Bone Woman greatly impressed me. It explores the unspoken conventions of pressured parenthood within Mexican society. We see the alternative community under a positive light. And finally, the folkloric horror elements are spread out enough to keep the dread simmering in the background until the explosive and powerful climax.
