In the opening moments of “The Beldham”, we read that the title refers to an old crone. More explicitly, a bird-like witch who feeds on the souls of infants. That description alone is enough to paint the film as a dark and unsettling chiller. But that turns out to be somewhat of a misdirection. It’s true that “The Beldham” has some classic horror ingredients. But in reality, writer and director Angela Gulner has a lot more on her mind which she conveys through this solid directorial debut.

The movie opens with an introduction to Harper (Katie Parker), a single mother to her infant daughter Christine (Lincoln Taylor). The story kicks off with the two arriving at the home of Harper’s mother, Sadie (Patricia Heaton). Sadie has recently retired and bought a suburban farmhouse to renovate. Harper has come to help, or so she thinks. We learn Harper has recently had an accident of some kind and her mother is intent on taking care of her and Christine.

It doesn’t take long for us to notice a simmering tension between mother and daughter. It’s obvious in Sadie’s poorly veiled disapproval of her daughter’s parenting and in Harper’s resistance to any advice her mother tries to give. Gulner doesn’t immediately reveal the root of their friction. But as her haunting story unfolds we get snippets of information meant to be cataloged in our minds. Meanwhile other characters play into the mystery. Namely Frank (Corbin Bernsen), Sadie’s partner and general peacemaker, and Bette (Emma Fitzpatrick), a young nurse and housemaid who connects with Harper.

The vast majority of the story is told through Harper’s eyes – a choice of perspective that Gulner uses to introduce the horror aspect of her movie. Harper begins having creepy encounters that blur the lines between what’s real and what’s in her mind. The eerie caws of black crows, an old tattered journal filled with the unsettling testimonies of the home’s former owner, dark visions of a witch living within the walls. It all gets under your skin while slyly informing the big reveal to come.

As for the film’s big reveal – it dramatically reshapes everything leading up to it. And it immediately transforms the movie from a psychological horror film to an unexpectedly poignant domestic drama. Getting to the big reveal can be challenging as a lot of the information doesn’t always make sense in the moment. But again, it’s best to take the information given and log it for later. And once we finally get clarity, the payoff is pretty satisfying.

“The Beldham” is the latest film to tackle the theme of motherhood from a uniquely specific perspective. The various phases of maternal drama add several interesting layers to the story while the turns towards genre creates a psychological tension that keeps us off-balance. Over time the movie can wear you down as you try to collect and connect its loose pieces. But it’s worth the effort thanks to an ending that packs an emotional jolt as it’s bringing everything into focus.

VERDICT – 3 STARS