A psychological game for growth becomes a tense battle for a soul in Mother, May I?. Brace yourself as Emmett, a young man who recently lost his mother, embarks on a journey with his fiancée Anya to prepare his childhood home for sale. However, after a night of taking mushrooms and unpacking childhood trauma, Anya undergoes a complete transformation, leaving Emmett shaken to his core.

Horror genre veteran Kyle Gallner and Teen Wolf alum Holland Roden lead the small cast of Mother, May I? alongside Chris Mulkey. This gripping movie challenges the audience’s expectations of a typical possession story, keeping them guessing and enthralled by the emotional turmoil endured by Emmett and Anya.

In anticipation of the movie’s release, FilmmakerFocus had an exclusive conversation with writer/director Laurence Vannicelli. They discussed Mother, May I?, the highs and challenges of its indie production, finding the perfect look for the psychological horror-thriller, and more.

Editor’s Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Laurence Vannicelli Talks Mother, May I?