'The Matriarch' Review: A Relentless, Grit-Fuelled Domestic Horror
- Romey Norton
- Jun 15
- 2 min read
By Romey Norton - June 15, 2025
Hell hath no fury like a mother scorned, and The Matriarch takes that truth to terrifying new heights.
Marking the feature debut of Australian filmmaker Jayden Creighton, The Matriarch is a lean, high-stakes horror thriller that dives deep into the fractured bonds of motherhood, survival, and trauma. Based on a 2022 spec trailer created for the Monster Pictures Pitch Initiative (where it became a Top 20 finalist), the film wastes no time establishing its nerve-wracking premise, and it never lets up.
What is The Matriarch about?
The story centres around Missy Taylor, played with astonishing control and raw vulnerability by newcomer Juliette Greenfield. Missy lives in quiet dread with her addict mother, Annette (Kate Logan). When Annette’s recently paroled boyfriend, Trent, moves in, things quickly spiral. His predatory intentions toward Missy force her into a horrifying act of self-defence: killing him.
Blinded by grief and addiction, Annette turns on her daughter, defending Trent’s memory over her child’s safety. What unfolds is a tightly confined cat-and-mouse thriller set across one harrowing night as Missy fights for survival.
Juliette Greenfield is great to watch in this role. With very little dialogue, she channels fear, resilience, and desperation with heart-breaking clarity. Kate Logan delivers a powerhouse performance as Annette, making her both monstrous and tragic. It’s a role that could have fallen into caricature, but Logan grounds her with pain and fury. Andy Sparnon’s limited screen time still leaves an impression, laying the psychological groundwork for the film’s twisted emotional triangle.
The cinematography starts with colour, and slowly darkens creating an oppressive atmosphere. The house feels like a trap. Every room is a threat. And the suspenseful music adds to the dread our young protagonist is feeling. There’s a chilling horror vibe created through the music, which really helped keep me invested as a viewer.
There are some dark moments and more violence than I anticipated. This twisted relationship between mother and daughter takes dreadful turns you can’t imagine going through. You know that one of the must survive/be victorious for this film to end. There’s no coming back from this. Without spoiling the ending for you, it’s bloody violent with a touch of sadness. There is a nice full-circle moment when the sunny-warm colours come back to the screen.
Beyond the blood and fear, The Matriarch is a chilling look at generational damage, toxic loyalty, and the lengths a child must go to survive a parent’s betrayal. It's not just a horror film; it’s a tragedy, a cautionary tale, and a raw emotional ride.
Is 'The Matriarch' worth watching?
Yes. The Matriarch builds the unshakable dread that the real monsters might be the ones closest to us. And through that, it’s scary, unnerving, and will have you thinking about the people in your life. Fans of psychological thrillers like, Becky, or Run will find a lot to admire here, especially in how Creighton centres the story around a young female protagonist with real agency.
'The Matriarch' is out now on digital platforms
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