Madres (2021) Review

: The film uses the "gothic" tradition to reflect anxieties specifically regarding the bodies of brown women and reproductive autonomy. 4. Critical Reception

The film follows Diana (Ariana Guerra), an expectant mother who moves from Los Angeles to a rural farming community in the Golden Valley. Diana’s struggle to fit into the local community—exacerbated by her inability to speak Spanish—serves as a backdrop for the film's exploration of Latina identity and isolation . The 1970s setting is crucial, as it mirrors real-world events in Los Angeles where Mexican mothers were coerced into sterilizations without informed consent. 2. The Shift from Supernatural to Social Horror Madres (2021)

: The true horror is not demonic but human—specifically, racist medical practices and eugenics . : The film uses the "gothic" tradition to

Initially, Madres presents itself as a supernatural thriller. Diana experiences terrifying visions and finds "cursed" relics, which she and her husband Beto (Tenoch Huerta) initially believe are tied to local folk legends or environmental toxins like pesticides. However, the film subverts these expectations: The Shift from Supernatural to Social Horror :

: The exploitation of language barriers and the withholding of medication to coerce women into signing sterilization forms.

: Rather than being malevolent entities, the "ghosts" Diana encounters are the spirits of past victims attempting to warn her of the impending danger at the local clinic. 3. Themes of Reproductive Rights and Justice