Director David Lowery didn’t explicitly set out to craft a spiritual successor to the 2026 vision of Suspiria, yet the parallel is impossible to ignore.
The 1977 giallo horror staple—famous for its coven of witches hiding in plain sight as dancers—shares a haunting DNA with Lowery’s latest feature, Mother Mary. Both films delve into the volatile bond between a pop icon, played by Anne Hathaway, and her former costume designer, portrayed by Michaela Coel. While they share an affinity for unholy manifestations, visceral choreography, and a saturated, nightmarish aesthetic, those stylistic echoes were entirely organic.
“I have a profound admiration for both iterations of Suspiria. While I wasn’t consciously mirroring them, the connection is undeniable now,” Lowery shared with Polygon. “There is an inherently supernatural quality to dance. The way performers manipulate their bodies often defies the physical constraints of our reality; it feels indistinguishable from witchcraft. That blurred boundary between artistic movement and ancient sorcery is a thread that runs through both films.”
If you have an affinity for Suspiria, you will likely find yourself drawn to the hypnotic gravity of Mother Mary. It channels the feverish style of Italian giallo while tailoring its intensity for modern cinephile sensibilities. Even for those typically hesitant toward psychological horror, the film offers a singular, visceral experience that stands apart from the current landscape of cinema.
In our discussion, Lowery deconstructs pivotal moments from the film. Please be aware that the following contains light spoilers, though the analysis serves as a fascinating lens through which to view the project’s unique creative mechanics.
1
Anne Hathaway’s physical transformation
A striking moment early in the film occurs when Hathaway’s character visits a remote studio for a fitting, exposing a remarkably toned physique. It served as a shock to audiences, but Lowery notes this wasn’t a mandated aesthetic request.
“When Anne engaged with the script, she intuitively grasped the physical toll it would demand. She essentially enrolled herself in a grueling ‘pop-star bootcamp’ three months prior to production. By the time she stepped on set, her transformation was complete. She has always been in excellent shape, but this was an entirely different level of discipline.”
2
Crafting the “Ghost”
The film introduces an enigmatic “entity” that torments the protagonists—a shifting, semi-translucent cloud of crimson fabric that seems to defy gravity. Lowery admits that realizing this vision was the film’s greatest design hurdle.
“I initially envisioned a more traditional, spectral humanoid figure. However, the more I delved into the staging, the more I realized that standard horror tropes wouldn’t suffice. I began sculpting maquettes with red clay, exploring textures and forms. I eventually discovered the work of Daniel Wurtzel, whose kinetic fabric sculptures captured that exact state of flux I was looking for. Because our ghost originates from Sam, it felt poetic for it to manifest through the very materials she works with: fabric and couture.”
3
The climactic fall
The concert sequence, during which Hathaway’s character is unnerved by the spirit and falls from a platform, was a feat of practical execution. “Every element was tactile and real,” Lowery explains. “We mounted cameras on the platform itself to capture the intimate emotional descent while the audience witnessed the wider spectacle. It was vital that the sequence felt like a visual symphony, transcending dialogue to tell the story through pure movement.”
Bonus: Quantum Physics as Metaphor
Lowery anchors the film’s supernatural themes in the actual scientific theory of quantum entanglement. Known as “spooky action at a distance,” this phenomenon serves as an eerie, elegant metaphor for the protagonists’ connection. As Lowery reflects, “The idea that two particles can remain inexplicably linked across the universe, mirroring each other’s states—it’s not just a scientific reality; it’s a profound way to understand human intimacy.”
Mother Mary is currently in limited release and expands to wider theaters on April 24.
Source: Polygon
