[Book Review] Mums and Sons (2022)

ReviewBook ReviewHorror
Written By Ariel Powers-Schaub / Senior Contributor & Admin Assistant

Horror films often have so much to show and tell us, it can be impossible to catch everything in a movie in just one viewing. They need time to settle into your mind, and allow you to reflect on their themes. This is especially true if the topics are poignant and personal. Coming soon is a heartfelt analysis of some of the most intimate topics in horror, dissected and displayed for your consideration. 

In her debut publication, Mums and Sons (2022), Ghouls Magazine’s own Rebecca McCallum explores mother and son relationships, and how those relationships are affected by grief, secrets, and repression. McCallum uses three horror films as reference points for her analysis: The Babadook (2014), Hereditary (2018), and Psycho (1960), to explore various stages of life in a mother/son relationship. All three films have been influential and impactful, both to individual viewers and the horror genre as a whole, and as such, each film has been analyzed before. However, McCallum takes this analysis to a new level, putting these three films side-by-side, and comparing and contrasting their perspective on a specific type of relationship. It is impressive and remarkable that she has new things to say about films that have been picked apart by audiences for years (especially in the case of Psycho, over sixty years!). Even for die-hard genre fans, McCallum offers a fresh take. 

The attention to detail in Mums and Sons is astonishing. McCallum describes scenes in each film that jog the reader’s memory and help us recall the symbolism and design. She threads the metaphorical needle by giving the reader enough detail to bring us along on her analytical journey, without slowing down the reader by weaving in plot details. After reading her book, I want to rewatch each of the three films referenced, and look for all the supporting evidence McCallum provides. It’s thrilling, as a film fan, to rewatch whilst looking for aspects you might have missed previously, and Mums and Sons offers so much to look for. 

The text feels personal in a welcoming way, offering something for anyone to relate to. I am not a mother nor a son, but I am a member of a family, and I have experienced loss and grief, and so the analysis feels relatable. The seven key points McCallum uses to shape her thematic exploration provide an abundance of perspectives on the mother/son dynamics in the key works referenced. McCallum has achieved writing a book that will pertain to many readers, whether they are genre fans or not. 

Horror is an excellent space to explore themes of grief, loss, and family relationships. The three films chosen by McCallum are excellent examples of this, and she is an expert horror analyst. Her words on these impactful films make for an exceptional read - you do not want to miss!

Pre order of Mums + Sons available now through Plastic Brain Press! Grab your copy now and orders are being sent out from 6th May 2022

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[Editorial] Interview: Mums and Sons - An Examination of the Child/Parent Relationship Pocketbook with Rebecca McCallum