Finnish director Hanna Bergholm aims to challenge the conventional narratives surrounding parenthood in her horror film “Nightborn.” The film delves into the emotional complexities that arise during the transition to parenthood and seeks to address the taboos associated with motherhood.
At the Berlin Film Festival, Bergholm shared her vision for the film, originally titled “Yön Lapsi,” which is part of the Competition section. She expressed her desire to create a story that captures the tough emotions parents face, emphasizing the importance of confronting one’s feelings.
“Nightborn” follows Saga, played by an unknown actress, and her husband Jon, portrayed by Rupert Grint, known for his role in the Harry Potter series. The couple embarks on a new life in the Finnish wilderness, filled with excitement as they welcome their baby. However, their initial joy soon transforms into anxiety as Saga notices unsettling signs about their child.
The narrative unfolds primarily from Saga’s perspective, allowing audiences to grapple with the line between reality and perception. Grint, who recently experienced fatherhood himself, found the film’s themes particularly resonant, describing the journey into parenthood as a “scary experience.”
Bergholm additionally seeks to highlight the physical realities of childbirth, focusing on aspects often overlooked in mainstream dialogues. She stated, “I wanted to show the birth of people and the blood in that,” emphasizing that these raw experiences are natural and deserve more attention.
When discussing potential influences for “Nightborn,” Bergholm referenced Roman Polanski’s “Rosemary’s Baby,” humorously noting that their film begins where Polanski’s ends. The director aims to present a unique take on the horror genre, steeped in the complexities of human emotions tied to motherhood and family life.
As the film continues to draw attention at the festival, it aims to provoke thought about the challenges many new parents face, intertwining mythological elements with the emotional reality of daily life. Through “Nightborn,” Bergholm invites viewers to reflect on the often-unspoken struggles of parenthood in a gripping narrative that combines horror with deeply relatable themes.