A Banquet 2022

As Holly’s world revolves around the fragile life of her gravely ill husband, the weight of his mortality becomes palpable. In a desperate attempt to escape the crushing reality, he takes his own life through an act of poison-induced self-destruction. Meanwhile, their daughter Betsey teeters on the cusp of adulthood, struggling to find direction and purpose as she prepares to apply to university. A teacher’s suggestion that she compile a list of her most cherished values serves only to further confound her already uncertain sense of self.

As the days pass, Betsey becomes increasingly withdrawn, her behavior growing more erratic with each passing moment. She attends a party, where she becomes lost in thought and eventually disappears into the woods, only to reappear with an air of mysticism surrounding her. Her mother’s attempts to coax her back to reality are met with silence and refusals to eat, as Betsey begins to speak of visions that foretell a dark yet special destiny for herself, one in which her mother shines like a beacon.

Holly’s desperation grows as she empties her bank account and seeks the counsel of doctors and specialists in search of a cure for her daughter’s mysterious affliction. Despite the mounting concern, Betsey remains enigmatic, her words dripping with an otherworldly wisdom that seems to defy explanation.

The arrival of Holly’s mother brings with it the ancient Japanese legend of the Futakuchi-onna, a creature said to feed off the energy of its family. Her ominous warning – that Betsey may be this very monster – serves only to further heighten the sense of unease and foreboding that permeates their home.

In a desperate bid to escape the darkness gathering around them, Holly’s mother offers to take her younger daughter Izzy away from the chaos, an offer Betsey rejects with a quiet determination. As the night wears on, the two women are consumed by a shared sense of sorrow and fear, their bond growing stronger in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

In the morning, as the weight of their collective grief becomes too much to bear, Betsey shares a final message with her mother – that love and support will be the key to navigating the unknown – before passing away. The devastating loss leaves Holly shattered, her body weakened by the crushing blow. And yet, in the midst of her anguish, she appears to radiate a strange, ethereal glow, as if the very essence of her daughter has infused her with an otherworldly light.