New Movies: ll primo figlio (2025) by Mara Fondacaro: A Pregnant Mother's Descent into Grief and Paranoid HorrorCore Summary
- dailyentertainment95
- Jun 15
- 8 min read
Il primo figlio (2025): Grief-Stricken Mother Confronts Lost Son's Haunting Return
Il primo figlio (2025) (The First Son) is an intense psychological horror-drama, marking the feature directorial debut of Italian filmmaker Mara Fondacaro. The film centers on Ada (Astrid Meloni), a woman grappling with the devastating premature loss of her firstborn. As she and her partner, Rino, move to a new villa and prepare for the birth of their second child, Ada's unprocessed grief resurfaces, turning her pregnancy into a terrifying ordeal. She begins to believe that her deceased first son has returned from the afterlife, manifesting as a malevolent force intent on preventing his brother's birth. The film delves into Ada's fracturing mind, blurring the lines between unresolved trauma, supernatural haunting, and descent into madness, creating a chilling and emotionally charged exploration of maternal pain and paranoia.
Summary Short
Il primo figlio (2025), directed by Mara Fondacaro, is an Italian psychological horror-drama. It follows Ada, a pregnant woman haunted by the premature death of her first child. As her second birth approaches in a new home, her unprocessed grief twists into a terrifying delusion: she believes her lost son has returned to prevent the new baby's arrival. The film explores Ada's psychological breakdown, blurring reality and hallucination amidst her profound sorrow.
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31617935/
About movie: https://filmitalia.org/it/film/179211/
Link to watch (available 15-21 June, Pesaro Film Fest): https://www.mymovies.it/one/movie/18140-il-primo-figlio/
Detailed Summary
Premise of Profound Grief: The film introduces Ada (Astrid Meloni), a woman deeply scarred by the premature loss of her firstborn child. This past tragedy forms the core emotional wound driving the narrative.
New Beginnings, Resurfacing Pain: Ada and her partner, Rino (Simone Liberati), move to a new villa surrounded by nature, seemingly a fresh start as they are expecting their second child. However, as Ada's current pregnancy advances, the unaddressed pain of her previous loss intensely resurfaces.
Psychological Descent: Despite outwardly pretending to cope, Ada has not processed her mourning. This leads to a gradual descent into psychological distress and paranoia, directly linking her grief to terrifying perceptions.
Supernatural Belief/Delusion: The central conflict emerges as Ada begins to firmly believe that her deceased first son has returned from the afterlife. This "return" is depicted not as comforting, but as a malevolent presence actively trying to prevent the birth of his younger brother.
Blurring Reality and Madness: The narrative intentionally creates ambiguity, constantly questioning whether Ada is truly being haunted by a supernatural entity or if she is losing her mind due to extreme grief and trauma. This is the core horror element.
Themes of Motherhood and Loss: The film explores the profound complexities of motherhood, specifically the devastating impact of child loss and the anxieties surrounding a subsequent pregnancy.
Isolated Setting: The new villa surrounded by nature, implies a sense of isolation that could intensify Ada's psychological state and feelings of being alone with her terrifying experiences.
Mara Fondacaro's Debut: This marks the feature directorial debut for Mara Fondacaro, suggesting a bold and intimate approach to a very sensitive and disturbing subject.
Cast: Key roles include Astrid Meloni as Ada and Simone Liberati as Rino, with Benedetta Cimatti, Lorenzo Ferrante (II), and Giulio Maroncelli also in the cast.
Plot summary
A New Home, Lingering Grief: Ada and Rino move to a secluded villa as Ada enters the later stages of her second pregnancy. Outwardly, they seem to be preparing for a new chapter, but Ada's profound, unaddressed grief for her deceased firstborn child simmers beneath the surface.
Onset of Disturbing Phenomena: As Ada's pregnancy progresses and the due date nears, she begins to experience unsettling phenomena. These manifest as subtle and then increasingly overt signs that she interprets as her lost son's presence.
The Malicious Intent: Ada becomes convinced that her deceased son's spirit is malevolent and is actively trying to prevent the birth of his younger sibling, perhaps out of jealousy or a desire to remain the "first son."
Rino's Perspective: Rino likely attempts to reassure Ada, perhaps attributing her experiences to stress, hormones, or her unresolved grief, putting a strain on their relationship as Ada's beliefs intensify.
Descent into Paranoia: Ada's conviction grows, leading to escalating paranoia and actions that blur the line between protecting her unborn child from a perceived supernatural threat and succumbing to a severe mental breakdown.
Psychological Unraveling: The film delves into Ada's subjective reality, showing her fragmented perceptions, terrifying visions, and the increasing isolation she feels as her sanity is questioned.
Climax and Revelation: The narrative builds to a chilling climax, possibly during the birth itself, where the audience is forced to confront the ambiguity: Is the supernatural real, or has Ada truly lost her mind in the face of unimaginable grief? The "horror" peaks here, whether real or psychological.
Director's Vision
Exploring the Horrors of Grief: Mara Fondacaro's primary vision is to delve into the psychological horror born from profound, unprocessed grief, particularly maternal bereavement. She aims to show how trauma can warp perception and manifest as terror.
Blurring Reality and Delusion: Fondacaro intends to create a narrative that constantly questions the protagonist's sanity, leaving the audience to ponder the true nature of the events unfolding. This ambiguity is central to the film's horror.
Intimate and Intense: Her approach is likely to be highly intimate and focused on Ada's subjective experience, using close-ups, sound design, and possibly unsettling visuals to convey her deteriorating mental state.
Dark Side of Motherhood: The director seems keen to explore the darker, more unsettling aspects of motherhood, specifically the overwhelming pain of loss and the fear associated with bringing new life into the world after such a tragedy.
Emotional Authenticity: Despite the horror elements, Fondacaro aims for emotional authenticity in portraying Ada's raw pain and the complex dynamics with her partner.
Themes
Grief and Trauma: The overwhelming and destructive power of unprocessed grief, particularly after the loss of a child, leading to psychological breakdown.
Maternal Obsession/Protection: The intense, sometimes terrifying, instinct of a mother to protect her children, even when faced with an unseen or imagined threat.
Reality vs. Delusion: The central ambiguity of the film, forcing the audience to question what is real, what is psychological manifestation, and what is supernatural.
Fear of Replacement/Sibling Rivalry (Supernatural): If the ghost is real, it introduces a dark twist on sibling rivalry from beyond the grave. If psychological, it reflects Ada's deep-seated anxieties about "replacing" her lost child.
Isolation and Sanity: The protagonist's struggle to maintain her sanity in isolation, as her terrifying experiences are potentially dismissed by those closest to her.
Key success factors
Intense Psychological Premise: The film's core concept of a grieving mother haunted by her lost child while pregnant offers a powerful and disturbing psychological hook.
Genre Blend (Drama/Horror): The combination of profound human drama with unsettling psychological horror provides a rich and compelling viewing experience that caters to fans of both genres.
Timely Exploration of Grief: It taps into the universal, yet often unspoken, complexities of maternal grief and trauma, offering a visceral exploration.
Mara Fondacaro's Debut: As a debut feature tackling such a sensitive and dark subject, it marks a bold and potentially significant new voice in Italian cinema.
Ambiguity and Suspense: The intentional blurring of reality and delusion builds constant suspense and keeps the audience guessing about Ada's true state and the nature of the haunting.
Production Summary
Il primo figlio (2025) is an Italian psychological horror-drama film marking the feature directorial debut of Mara Fondacaro. It is an independent production focused on an intimate and psychologically intense narrative.
Production companies
Nightswim (Italy)
Release date on streaming
Specific streaming release dates for Il primo figlio (2025) are not yet announced. Its availability will depend on subsequent distribution deals after its initial theatrical or festival runs.
Theatrical Release
MyMovies.it lists the theatrical release year as 2025. Specific theatrical release dates are not widely published as of June 2025. It is expected to premiere at film festivals in 2025 and may have limited theatrical runs in Italy or other European countries.
Why to recommend this movie
Intense Psychological Horror: For those who appreciate horror that delves deep into the human mind and its darkest corners, particularly when driven by profound emotional trauma.
Gothic/Paranoid Ambiguity: The film's blurring of supernatural haunting versus mental breakdown provides compelling suspense and philosophical depth.
Powerful Female-Led Story: It offers a raw and visceral exploration of maternal grief and its devastating psychological effects, led by a central female character.
Mara Fondacaro's Bold Debut: It showcases a fearless new directorial voice willing to tackle extremely sensitive and disturbing subject matter in a non-exploitative way.
Why to Watch Movie
For a Chilling Psychological Experience: If you seek a film that will disturb you on a mental and emotional level rather than relying on jump scares.
Explore the Dark Side of Grief: Gain insight into the destructive power of unprocessed trauma and how it can manifest as terror.
Appreciate Arthouse Horror: Watch a film that combines the emotional depth of drama with the unsettling nature of horror, often seen in independent European cinema.
Strong Lead Performance: The film likely relies heavily on Astrid Meloni's portrayal of Ada, promising a demanding and powerful performance.
Movie Trend
Il primo figlio (2025) aligns strongly with the burgeoning trend of "Elevated Horror" or "Psychological Horror", particularly those focusing on grief-induced trauma and mental degradation. This trend often uses genre elements to explore deep psychological states and societal anxieties, moving beyond conventional scares. It also fits into the broader trend of "Female-Centric Horror," where women are protagonists facing and often succumbing to deep, personal terrors.
Social Trend
The film implicitly touches on the social trend of Mental Health Awareness and the Impact of Trauma, particularly surrounding the often-taboo subject of child loss and its profound psychological effects on parents. It delves into the societal pressure to "be fine" after tragedy and the devastating consequences of unprocessed grief, making it relevant to contemporary discussions around emotional well-being.
Final Verdict
Il primo figlio (2025) by Mara Fondacaro, as confirmed by the detailed MyMovies.it synopsis, is a gripping and unsettling psychological horror-drama centered on the devastating impact of unresolved maternal grief. Ada's terrifying descent into paranoia, believing her deceased firstborn is haunting her and threatening her second pregnancy, provides a rich ground for exploring the blurred lines between trauma, supernatural phenomena, and mental breakdown. This film promises an intimate, intense, and emotionally raw experience, showcasing Fondacaro's bold directorial vision in her feature debut. It stands as a powerful and chilling exploration of the human mind pushed to its limits by unimaginable sorrow, making it a compelling watch for those drawn to thought-provoking and deeply unsettling cinema.
Recommendations for film makers
Lean into Psychological Ambiguity: For horror/thriller films, effectively maintain the ambiguity between a character's internal struggle and external supernatural threats to maximize audience engagement and suspense.
Ground Horror in Trauma: Utilize real-world human trauma (like grief and loss) as the emotional anchor for horror elements, making the terror feel more visceral and relatable.
Focus on Subjective Reality: Employ cinematic techniques that allow the audience to experience the world through the protagonist's fracturing perception, enhancing the psychological impact.
Trust Intimate Narratives: Even in horror, a tight focus on a few characters and their internal battles can create more profound and lasting fear than large-scale spectacle.
Recommendations for Movie Industry
Invest in Elevated Horror: Continue to support and acquire psychological horror films that offer thematic depth and artistic merit, as this subgenre has a growing and dedicated audience.
Champion New Voices in Genre: Actively seek out and empower debut directors who bring fresh perspectives to established genres, especially those willing to explore challenging and intimate themes.
Market Emotional Intensity: When promoting such films, emphasize the psychological and emotional impact, focusing on the character's journey and the underlying themes rather than just surface-level scares.
Recognize Social Relevance: Highlight how genre films, like this one, can effectively engage with important social trends such as mental health and the complexities of grief, fostering broader critical discussion.
Final Conclusions
Il primo figlio (2025) by Mara Fondacaro, definitively identified as a psychological horror-drama, emerges as a compelling and unsettling feature debut. It masterfully delves into the profound, unaddressed grief of Ada, a pregnant mother convinced her deceased firstborn is returning to prevent the birth of her new child. This narrative skillfully blurs the lines between intense psychological trauma, potential supernatural haunting, and a descent into madness, creating a chilling atmosphere. The film promises an intimate, raw, and emotionally charged exploration of maternal pain and paranoia, positioning Fondacaro as a bold new voice in Italian cinema. It stands as a vital and disturbing look into the human mind pushed to its limits by unimaginable sorrow, offering a compelling experience for those drawn to thought-provoking and deeply unsettling cinema.
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