Directed by
Nicolas Pesce
Made by
Magnet Releasing
Discover the intricate plot of The Eyes of My Mother (2016). From unexpected twists to emotional highs and lows, this detailed summary breaks down every moment to give you a deeper understanding of the film’s story.
Francisca and her parents are settled on a farm where they raise various animals. Her mother, a skilled surgeon, imparts her knowledge to Francisca, teaching her how to remove the eyeballs from the livestock, while also sharing the tale of St. Francis of Assisi. One fateful day, a door-to-door salesman named Charlie arrives, requesting to use the restroom. Despite her instincts telling her otherwise, Francisca’s mother permits him entry into their home. Unfortunately, Charlie reveals his sinister intentions by brandishing a gun and dragging Francisca’s mother to the bathroom. When her father returns home, he is horrified to find Charlie brutally attacking his wife’s body in the tub. In a fit of rage, he knocks Charlie unconscious and confines him in the barn, while the family mourns the tragic loss of Francisca’s mother by burying her in the backyard.
As time passes, Francisca visits the captured Charlie, who intrigues her with tales of the thrill associated with taking lives. In a shocking act, she removes Charlie’s eyes and vocal cords, preserving them in a bag within the refrigerator. She reassuringly tells him that he was spared because he is her only friend, and she vows to protect him.
Years later, after the death of her father, Francisca chooses to preserve his body as well. She later meets a young woman named Kimiko at a bar. As they connect, Kimiko becomes uneasy upon learning about Francisca’s dark past, especially when Francisca makes a chilling joke about having killed her own father. Attempting to flee, Kimiko meets a tragic fate as Francisca murders her, dismembers her, and stores her organs away in the refrigerator. Following this, she bathes Charlie, who remains shackled in the barn, and brings him into her bed. However, when Charlie tries to escape, Francisca stabs him repeatedly. With eerie confidence, she acknowledges that he was right—killing is an exhilarating experience.
Yet, consumed by solitary despair, Francisca wanders through the woods until she stumbles upon a highway, where she gets a ride with a woman named Lucy, who has a baby son named Antonio. Upon reaching her home, Francisca seizes the opportunity to kidnap the baby, brutally stabbing Lucy and praising her deceased mother for guiding them together. True to her twisted nature, she removes Lucy’s eyes and vocal cords, chaining her up in the barn as well.
As Antonio grows and approaches 8 or 9 years old, his curiosity piques about the barn, which he is explicitly told to avoid. One night, upon seeing Francisca asleep, he bravely ventures inside, only to be horrified at the pitiful sight of his biological mother, chained and blind, moaning in despair. Lucy eventually manages to escape the barn, wandering blindly until a truck driver finds her on the road. However, Francisca soon learns of this escape, prompting her to unearth her mother’s remains, cradling the skeleton while lamenting her loss.
In a climactic turn, as police arrive at the house, Francisca rushes to awaken Antonio, dragging him into the bathroom while brandishing a knife. In a frantic plea, she insists that the authorities will never take her baby away. Just then, a gunshot echoes in the air, leaving the film’s tragic conclusion shrouded in mystery.
Track the key events of The Eyes of My Mother (2016) with a comprehensive timeline. Perfect for understanding the sequence of major plot points, this feature offers clarity on how the story unfolds.
Family Settles on a Farm
Francisca and her parents establish their life on a farm, raising various livestock. This setting provides a backdrop for both their idyllic life and the horrific events that unfold later.
Mother's Teaching
Francisca's mother, a talented surgeon, imparts her medical knowledge to her daughter. She teaches Francisca the grim skill of removing the eyeballs from animals while sharing the story of St. Francis of Assisi.
Charlie's Arrival
A door-to-door salesman named Charlie arrives at their home, asking to use the restroom. Francisca's mother, against her daughter's instincts, permits him to enter, setting off a chain reaction of horror.
Tragic Attack
Charlie's true intentions are revealed when he forcibly drags Francisca's mother into the bathroom at gunpoint. When her father arrives, he finds the gruesome scene, leading to a violent confrontation.
Mother's Burial
In the aftermath of the attack, Francisca's family is left devastated. They hold a somber funeral in the backyard for Francisca's mother, struggling to cope with their loss.
Francisca's Disturbing Friendship
Visiting the imprisoned Charlie in the barn, Francisca becomes enthralled by his stories of killing. In a shocking twist, she extracts his eyes and vocal cords, keeping them as trophies.
Preserving Her Father's Body
After her father's death, Francisca decides to preserve his body, demonstrating her twisted desire to maintain control. This act further solidifies her dark descent into madness.
Meeting Kimiko
Francisca encounters Kimiko at a bar, and their connection deepens. However, Kimiko is soon unsettled by Francisca's unsettling confession about her father's death, leading to a chilling revelation.
Kimiko's Demise
Attempting to flee from Francisca's disturbing nature, Kimiko meets a tragic fate. Francisca brutally murders her, dismembers her body, and hides her organs in the refrigerator.
Bathing Charlie
Despite his shackled condition, Francisca continues to nurture her bond with Charlie. After bathing him, she feels a sense of intimacy, but this quickly turns violent when Charlie tries to escape.
Kidnapping Antonio
Francisca encounters Lucy and her baby, Antonio, and seizes the opportunity to kidnap the child. In a brutal act, she stabs Lucy, exhibiting her motherly instincts warped by madness.
Antonio's Discovery
As Antonio grows older, he becomes curious about the forbidden barn. One night, he stumbles upon a horrifying sight—his biological mother, Lucy, bound and suffering, which changes his understanding of family.
Lucy's Escape
Lucy manages to escape her confines, blindly wandering until a truck driver rescues her. However, her freedom is short-lived as Francisca quickly learns of her escape and reacts violently.
Crisis as Police Arrive
As the police arrive at the farmhouse, Francisca panics and wakes Antonio. She holds him at knifepoint in the bathroom, fearful that the authorities will take him away, reflecting her mental instability.
Tragic Conclusion
In a climax filled with tension, a gunshot rings out as the fate of Francisca and Antonio hangs in the balance. The film concludes ambiguously, leaving viewers questioning what transpired.
Meet the characters that bring The Eyes of My Mother (2016) to life. Dive into detailed profiles of the cast and their roles, exploring their motivations, relationships, and arcs within the story.
Francisca
Francisca is a deeply troubled character shaped by trauma, loss, and isolation. Her mother's influence as a surgeon casts a long shadow over her life, leading her down a dark path of obsession and violence. As she navigates her twisted psyche, she exhibits a chilling blend of vulnerability and menace.
Charlie
Charlie serves as both a victim and catalyst in the story, representing the invasive threat that disrupts Francisca's world. His sinister actions force the family into chaos, yet he paradoxically becomes an object of fascination for Francisca. His interactions reflect the darkness within her burgeoning psyche.
Lucy
Lucy is portrayed as a tragic figure caught in the web of Francisca's madness. As the mother of Antonio, she embodies vulnerability and the maternal instincts that ultimately clash with Francisca's twisted desires. Her fate underscores the horror of the narrative as her confining relationships lead to her demise.
Antonio
Antonio is introduced as an innocent child growing in a nightmarish environment defined by his mother's violent actions. His curiosity about the barn symbolizes lost childhood and the horrors lurking beneath the surface. His ultimate fate is a poignant reminder of the tragedy that befalls those engulfed by madness.
Uncover the settings of The Eyes of My Mother (2016), from iconic locations to the time period that shapes its world. See how these elements add depth and context to the movie’s narrative.
Time period
The movie does not specify a particular time period, but it evokes a timeless atmosphere devoid of modern technology. This allows the narrative to focus on the psychological horror and timeless themes of loss and madness.
Location
farm, barn, highway
The story unfolds primarily on a secluded farm where Francisca and her family raise livestock and live a tranquil life. The barn becomes a chilling backdrop for the gruesome events that follow, housing both victims and dark secrets. The highway symbolizes escape and desperation, marking the transition from isolation to the outside world.
Explore the core themes of The Eyes of My Mother (2016). From its commentary on social issues to its emotional undertones, delve into the deeper messages woven into the film’s story.
🩸
Violence
The film delves deep into themes of violence and the macabre fascination with taking lives. Francisca's transformation from a victim to a cold-blooded killer highlights the tragic effects of isolation and trauma. Each act of violence is portrayed as a perverse connection to her past and relationships, steeped in horror.
👁️
Madness
Madness permeates Francisca's actions as she grapples with her mother's death and her own psychological torment. Her obsession with preserving body parts speaks to a profound loneliness and warped sense of companionship, illustrating how grief can distort reality. The theme of madness is further emphasized through her unsettling relationships and moral detachment.
🌌
Isolation
Isolation is a key theme, reflected in Francisca's life on the farm and her interactions with others. This seclusion breeds a distorted worldview and a haunting inability to connect, leading to horrific violence as a misguided form of companionship. The film portrays isolation not only as physical separation but as a psychological plight.
What's After the Movie?
Not sure whether to stay after the credits? Find out!
Check out our other apps:
Actors
Companies
Latest Movies
© 2024 What's After the Movie?. All rights reserved.