Madre

In the climax of Madres, Diana and Beto uncover the horrifying truth behind the town’s declining birth rates and the mysterious illnesses afflicting pregnant women. It turns out that the local doctor, Whelton Bell, along with his accomplice Nurse Carol, has been secretly sterilizing and murdering Hispanic women under the guise of medical treatment. Their sinister motive was rooted in racist beliefs, aimed at eradicating the immigrant lineage to maintain a so-called “white country.” This revelation explains the supernatural element—the ghost of Teresa—who was initially feared as a vengeful spirit but is later understood to be Diana’s guardian, trying to protect her and her unborn child from the evil humans. Teresa’s ghost communicates with Diana through a lullaby and guides her to the truth, helping her find records that expose Whelton and the others.

With this knowledge, Diana confronts and interrupts Whelton on the operating table just as he attempts to kill her. Her husband, Beto, arrives in the nick of time and stabs Whelton to stop him. However, Beto is later shot and killed by Tomas, Beto’s racist boss, who also reveals his and Whelton’s plans to poison and sterilize immigrant women intentionally using a toxic drink. The couple’s victory is bittersweet; Diana manages to kill Tomas and escapes with her life and her newborn son, Jose, whom she names in memory of her fight. The film closes on her hopeful note, having survived and protected her child, but it also leaves a sobering reflection on the real historical atrocities of forced sterilizations carried out against marginalized communities in the U.S. and elsewhere. Throughout the ending, the supernatural and human horrors blend to reinforce the message: evil manifests both in ghosts and in human cruelty, and confronting that evil is the only way to bring justice and survival.

Last Updated: July 21, 2025 at 10:29