Nesting (2025) by Chloé Cinq-Mars: A Postpartum Psychological Nightmare
- dailyentertainment95
- Aug 15
- 5 min read
Short Summary: Nesting (original title: Peau à Peau) is a Canadian-Swiss psychological thriller directed and written by Chloé Cinq-Mars. The film is a haunting and tense exploration of postpartum depression, trauma, and the fragile state of a new mother’s mental health. Drawing inspiration from Cinq-Mars's own experiences, the movie turns the often-romanticized period of motherhood into a chilling and deeply human descent into psychosis.
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36140299/
Link to watch (industry professionals): https://pro.festivalscope.com/film/nesting-1
Detailed Summary: A Mother's Descent into Madness The film introduces us to Pénélope, a new mother grappling with sleep deprivation and anxiety. Her home, which should be a place of sanctuary, feels like a prison. Her relationship with her husband, Gaspard, is strained by the demands of their newborn. The fragile peace is shattered when she witnesses a violent hold-up at a convenience store. This event acts as a catalyst, reviving deep-seated trauma from her past, specifically the death of her sister, for which she feels a haunting guilt.
Consumed by her psychological torment, Pénélope begins to neglect her baby and retreats from her husband. She becomes obsessed with a former boyfriend, Edward, rekindling an affair that offers a temporary escape from her present reality. However, this escape only pulls her further into her own mind, blurring the line between her past traumas and her current psychological state. The film masterfully builds suspense not by external threats, but by the internal terror of watching Pénélope's mind slowly unravel. The audience is left questioning whether the horror is real or a manifestation of her postpartum psychosis.
Director's Vision: Motherhood as a Horror Story Chloé Cinq-Mars's vision for Nesting is to expose the hidden horrors of motherhood. The film is a personal and unflinching look at postpartum depression, a topic that is often misunderstood or ignored in cinema.
Psychological Reality: Cinq-Mars stated that the film was partially inspired by her own experience with postpartum depression. She uses the genre of psychological thriller to externalize the internal fears and anxieties of a new mother. The "horror" isn't a monster in the closet; it's the monster within her own mind.
Atmospheric Suspense: The director uses a sense of quiet dread and isolation to build suspense. The film focuses on the emotional and psychological journey of its protagonist, relying on sound design, close-ups, and a sense of claustrophobia to create a deeply unsettling atmosphere.
Themes: Postpartum Depression, Trauma, and Guilt
The Motherhood Myth: The film directly confronts the romanticized image of motherhood. It portrays it as a difficult, lonely, and mentally exhausting experience, highlighting the immense pressure and societal expectations placed on new mothers.
The Weight of the Past: The trauma from Pénélope's past is not just a subplot but the emotional core of her breakdown. The film explores how unresolved trauma can be triggered by new, stressful life events, creating a cycle of pain.
The Fragility of the Mind: Nesting is a powerful examination of mental health. It shows how the mind, under extreme stress and duress, can fracture and become a source of terror for the person experiencing it.
Key Success Factors: Relatability and Acclaim
Authentic Subject Matter: The film’s raw and honest portrayal of postpartum depression resonated with audiences and critics, who found the subject matter both devastatingly relatable and achingly beautiful.
Strong Direction: Chloé Cinq-Mars won the award for Best Canadian Director at the Fantasia International Film Festival for her debut feature film. This early acclaim signals the film's quality and her talent as a filmmaker.
Lead Performance: Rose-Marie Perreault’s performance as Pénélope has been praised for its raw and believable depiction of a woman on the edge.
Awards and Nominations:
Fantasia International Film Festival 2025: Winner, Best Canadian Director (Chloé Cinq-Mars).
Critics Reception: A Chilling, Groundbreaking Debut
Overall Summary: Critics have been highly positive, calling Nesting a groundbreaking and important film. They praise its courage in tackling a difficult subject matter with sensitivity and artistic vision. Reviews from Fantasia Film Festival have highlighted its effectiveness as a psychological thriller and its emotional impact, labeling it a "postpartum nightmare" and "deeply human exploration."
Reviews: Poetic, Haunting, and Unforgettable
Overall Summary: Audience reactions have been strong, with many viewers calling the film a must-see for its emotional power and the way it handles its difficult themes. The film has been described as poetic, haunting, and a true-to-life representation of an often-hidden struggle. It has resonated with audiences who have personal experience with mental health or motherhood, as well as those who are simply drawn to powerful psychological thrillers.
Release date on streaming: TBA The film has a theatrical release but has not yet announced an official streaming date.
Theatrical Release: A Festival Premiere Nesting premiered at the 29th Fantasia International Film Festival in July 2025.
Why to recommend movie: A Terrifying Look at the Postpartum Experience
An Unflinching and Honest Portrayal of Motherhood: The film refuses to romanticize the postpartum period. Instead, it offers a raw, honest look at the immense pressure, sleep deprivation, and isolation many new mothers face. This makes the film both a compelling psychological thriller and a vital social commentary on an often-unspoken struggle.
A Masterful Blend of Psychological Thriller and Drama: Nesting expertly uses the conventions of the thriller genre to externalize the internal fears of its protagonist. The suspense isn't just about what's happening outside, but what's happening inside her mind, creating a terrifying and claustrophobic experience for the audience.
A Promising Debut from a Director to Watch: Chloé Cinq-Mars won the award for Best Canadian Director at the Fantasia International Film Festival for her debut feature film. This early critical acclaim signals a fresh and important voice in cinema, and the film itself is a testament to her talent for handling difficult subject matter with sensitivity and artistic vision.
Movie Trend: Postpartum Psychological Thrillers
Nesting is a key example of the growing trend of postpartum psychological thrillers, a subgenre that explores the darker, more unsettling aspects of new motherhood. Unlike traditional horror films that rely on supernatural threats, this trend focuses on the internal mental and emotional breakdown of the protagonist. Other films in this genre, such as The Babadook or Relic, use horror as a metaphor for the real-life fears and anxieties associated with motherhood, including postpartum depression, grief, and the loss of self. This trend is gaining traction as it provides a powerful platform for female filmmakers to tell stories that are both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Social Trend: Maternal Mental Health Awareness
The film directly reflects a critical social trend: the increased awareness and public discussion around maternal mental health. Historically, issues like postpartum depression and anxiety have been stigmatized and often suffered in silence. The film's protagonist struggles with this very issue, feeling immense pressure to conform to the "perfect mother" archetype while her mental state deteriorates. By portraying this descent into madness as a central theme, Nesting contributes to a broader cultural conversation that is working to destigmatize mental health challenges and highlight the importance of support for new parents.
Final Verdict: A Viscerally Unsettling Masterpiece Nesting is a brilliant and unsettling directorial debut that is as beautiful as it is terrifying. Chloé Cinq-Mars takes a deeply personal subject and transforms it into a gripping psychological thriller. With a powerful lead performance and an atmosphere of constant dread, the film is a vital and unforgettable look at the hidden struggles of new mothers. It is a must-see for fans of thought-provoking and emotionally resonant horror.
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