Mother May I? by Laurence Vannicelli uses a psychological and horror-driven storyline to focus on deep emotional scars left by childhood abandonment. The film begins when Emmett, played by Kyle Gallner, learns that his biological mother Tracy has passed away and left him her house.
Right from the start, it is clear that Emmett holds resentment toward her for abandoning him when he needed her the most, eventually giving him up for adoption.
Haunted by the past Emmett confronts more than just memories inside his childhood home (Photo: Mother May I?/Dark Sky Films)Emmett carries emotional wounds from his past, for which he seeks therapy in hopes of finding peace. He plans to begin a new chapter by having a child with his fiancée, Anya, who is currently working as a copywriter while nurturing her dream of becoming a poet.
Emmett believes that becoming a father might allow him to correct the emotional void left by his upbringing, but Anya has a different perspective. As the couple arrives at Tracy’s property intending to sell it, tensions begin to build. Strange occurrences and unsettling moments gradually unravel, particularly when Anya starts to behave as if she is Emmett’s mother.
The disturbing transformation adds stress to Emmett’s already fragile state, causing him to lose his grip on what’s real. As confusion turns into conflict, a major confrontation takes place, leading us deeper into the meaning behind the movie’s closing scenes.
How Did Tracy Pass Away?
Tracy’s death took place at her secluded home near Binghamton, but the exact reason behind her demise is never confirmed in the film. It appears she may have suffered a stroke while having her morning coffee, falling from her chair and hitting her head.
That impact might have contributed to her death. Her neighbour Bill was the one who discovered her body and alerted the authorities. Emmett received the news shortly afterward.
Without feeling the need to arrange a proper burial, Emmett opts for a quick cremation and casually scatters her ashes over a nearby pond, even referring to it as “fish food.” His attitude shows that he feels no emotional attachment or mourning for the woman who gave birth to him.
Was Anya Possessed?
On entering the house, Anya is immediately taken by its charm and sees potential in transforming it into a writer’s retreat. Emmett, however, shows no interest and wants to get rid of the place.
Sensing that Emmett avoids conversations about his mother, Anya pushes him to try chair reversal therapy—a technique she likely picked up from her emotionally distant mother. Though hesitant, Emmett finally shares his unresolved emotions about his mother’s abandonment.
Later that evening, the couple takes mushrooms, presumably to confront buried feelings. This is where things take an eerie turn. Anya behaves strangely and suggests they revisit the chair reversal game. She probes Emmett about whether he has ever questioned his mother’s decision to give him away.
The tension builds as Anya pushes boundaries—she wears Tracy’s cardigan and imitates her behaviour. Once she dons the cardigan, her personality changes completely, mirroring Tracy’s mannerisms—cooking, dancing, and writing like her.
The film doesn’t explain this transformation clearly, but it suggests that Anya might have become possessed by Tracy’s spirit. While it’s possible that the mushrooms triggered hallucinations, Emmett later uncovers journals written by his mother, which Anya might have read.
Even then, her sudden behavioural change is difficult to justify. She could not have absorbed so much information overnight, especially about a woman she had never met. Anya’s transformation seems to be less about method acting and more like a spiritual takeover—possibly Tracy’s attempt to connect with her son after years of separation.
Why Did Anya Hide the Truth from Emmett?
As Emmett tries to make sense of the strange behaviour, he searches Anya’s belongings and stumbles upon ultrasound photos. This leads him to assume she is pregnant. But Emmett, lacking an understanding of female health, misinterprets what he sees.
In truth, Anya cannot conceive, a fact she never shared with him. His reaction is filled with rage—not due to trauma, but because Emmett has always displayed immature behaviour. Even Bill, Tracy’s neighbour, mentions that Emmett was wild from an early age.
Believing Anya deceived him, Emmett lashes out cruelly. He finally voices the hurtful thoughts he had been holding back in an attempt to appear decent. By now, he is clearly unraveling.
Through this moment, it becomes evident that Anya also carries emotional wounds. Her mother only acknowledged her worth when she achieved something exceptional, which led to a lifelong struggle for validation.
According to Emmett, Anya is neither a talented poet nor a thriving writer. Her pursuit of success seems driven more by a desire to gain her mother’s approval than personal passion. Her disappointment in herself deepened when she discovered her infertility.
She wanted a child, not just out of maternal desire but as an escape from her stagnating career. Though she likely intended to tell Emmett eventually, she withheld the information—perhaps waiting for the right time or fearing his reaction. Unfortunately, Emmett finds out on his own, and their relationship begins to deteriorate rapidly.
Was Tracy Truly an Absent Mother?
The film doesn’t directly confirm whether Tracy chose to leave Emmett, but hints toward a different explanation. Toward the end, clues suggest that child welfare authorities may have taken Emmett from her.
Bill describes Emmett’s father as a flamboyant man who rode motorcycles and lived an artist’s life. His presence was fleeting, and it’s implied that Tracy raised Emmett alone.
Bill also makes a vague comment that distances himself from fatherhood, though its purpose remains unclear. Tracy, according to Bill, was deeply focused on her art, often neglecting parental responsibilities. Emmett grew up without feeling nurtured.
Anya, while under Tracy’s influence, tells Emmett that wanting a child out of necessity rather than love is misguided. It’s possible Tracy had hoped having a child might rescue her from a declining career in dance.
While the film doesn’t directly state this, it gives room to speculate. Regardless of her intentions, Tracy wasn’t present in the way Emmett needed, and guilt may have weighed heavily on her in her final days.
Bill reveals to Anya that Emmett was a difficult child to manage. The title of the film refers to a game that teaches children to obey instructions. Tracy may have been trying to instill discipline, both during her life and after her death.
During childhood, Emmett once ended up at Bill’s home with injuries. After being taken to the hospital, authorities might have discovered traces of tranquilizers in his system, leading to his removal by social services.
Anya finds documents supporting this theory in the basement, along with photos of Emmett showing signs of physical harm. These findings suggest that neglect, rather than outright abuse, led to his adoption. It’s also possible that Bill—if he was indeed the father—alerted the authorities to ensure the child’s safety.
What Becomes of Emmett and Anya?
There’s reason to believe Tracy, even in death, hoped to correct her failures. By influencing Anya, she may have been trying to offer Emmett the maternal care he never received.
When Anya first cooked for him, Emmett was taken aback but pleased. He later asked for eggs again, unaware that Tracy’s presence had faded. His longing for motherly love is evident.
A simple trip to sell a house unravels into a psychological descent neither saw coming (Photo: Mother May I?/Dark Sky Films)Bill tells Anya that she cannot provide Emmett with what he is looking for, hinting that it would be best for her to leave. She considers the advice, but that very night, Emmett begs her to inject him with the same drugs his mother once used. In that moment, it appears Tracy’s spirit guides Anya’s hand, as if to comfort her son one last time.
The next morning, Emmett confesses that he didn’t actually destroy Tracy’s diary. Anya admits she was relieved when she thought it was gone, seeing it as a way to end her writing ambitions without explanation.
Sitting together in the middle of the lake, Emmett questions how Anya—despite her fear of water—managed to swim gracefully while she was behaving like his mother.
Suspicious, he pushes her into the lake to see if she had been faking. Once she starts to drown, he dives in to rescue her. Anya eventually chooses to walk away from Emmett, realising that she can’t endure any more emotional chaos.
But that decision doesn’t last. A bug in her car reminds her of Tracy, who believed she would return as one after death. This small encounter is enough to pull Anya back.
Despite everything, she returns and resumes the reversed chair therapy with Emmett. She still dreams of being a mother, though she knows she cannot conceive, while Emmett continues to wrestle with emotional wounds left behind by his troubled childhood.
You can now watch this gripping film from start to finish on Amazon Prime Video.
