Mum & Dad

The film primarily shifts between the bustling terminals of Heathrow Airport and the claustrophobic private home of Lena's captors. Heathrow establishes Lena's ordinary, anonymous life as a cleaner, while the family residence becomes the central stage for control, fear, and violence. The contrast between these settings underlines Lena's precarious situation and the illusion of safety outside the home.

🔗 Captivity

The central horror stems from captivity and coercive control. Lena is stripped of voice and agency, kept under constant surveillance, and subjected to ritualized punishments. The family uses routines and fear to enforce obedience, turning daily life into a trap. This theme shows how power can be exercised through intimate spaces as well as public ones.

🩸 Violence

Explicit brutality drives the narrative: abduction, torture, dismemberment, and cannibalistic acts. The parents orchestrate and participate in these acts to dominate and terrify Lena. Violence is framed as a ritual of control, eroding any sense of moral boundaries within the family. The relentless acts cultivate pervasive fear throughout the story.

🧠 Trauma

Characters carry deep psychological scars from the abuse and coercion they endure or witness. The film probes memory, fear, and the erosion of personal boundaries under extreme pressure. Lena’s trauma informs her reactions, resilience, and occasional moral ambiguity in the face of danger. The atmosphere relies on psychological dread as much as physical peril.

🗝️ Escape

Lena’s will to escape is persistent, marked by careful observations and moments of opportunity. Elbie’s actions and shifting loyalties become crucial turning points that allow Lena to resist and fight back. The climax centers on Lena breaking free and confronting her captors, transforming fear into a fighting chance for survival.