‘The Matriarch‘ brings a new level of terror when protector turns into predator and nurture turns into neutralizing.
I’m a self-proclaimed wimp when it comes to horror, especially demon possession and torture porn, but ‘The Matriarch‘ hit a different nerve entirely. Producer, director and writer, Jayden Creighton’s debut feature delivers a fresh, emotionally charged kind of 
terror. It isn’t supernatural or grotesque but it’s real, grounded, and far too plausible. What could be more horrifying than the betrayal of your own mother? When the person meant to nurture and protect you instead sides with the monster, you’re left with a fear that lingers well beyond the final frame.
Set against the bleak backdrop of rural Australia, ‘The Matriarch‘ tells the story of 13-year-old Missy Taylor, played with startling authenticity by newcomer Juliette Greenfield. Living with her drug-addicted mother Annette (Kate Logan), Missy is already used to instability. But things take a darker turn when Annette’s boyfriend, Trent (Andy Sparnon), returns from prison and moves into their home. As tensions mount and abuse escalates, Missy finds herself in a fight for survival. When she kills Trent in self-defense, the true horror begins: her mother turns on her.
Creighton keeps the storytelling raw and immediate. The horror here comes not just from physical danger, but from emotional abandonment, and that’s what makes it so powerful. Missy is alone in the most devastating sense, and the camera never lets us forget it. Cinematographer Matthew Martin captures the isolation and menace of the rural setting beautifully, while the original score by Michael Drew and the immersive sound design by Michael Monaco heighten the sense of dread.
The supporting cast adds depth, but the film belongs to Greenfield, whose performance is both vulnerable and fiercely resilient. She carries the film with a quiet intensity that builds until the explosive final act. Kate Logan is equally strong as Annette, delivering a performance that balances heartbreak and horror.
Following its acclaimed run on the festival circuit, including wins for Best Lead Performance and Best Australian Feature, ‘The Matriarch‘ is available on TVOD platforms, distributed by Slated Distribution, the film marks a strong, confident debut for Creighton and a promising new chapter in Australian horror cinema.
Summary
Dark, devastating, and emotionally resonant, ‘The Matriarch‘ is not just a horror film, it’s a survival story.
