Julia Max’s feature debut, The Surrender, explores the raw, often overlooked reality of caring for a dying relative before diving into supernatural horror. The film centers on Megan (Colby Minifie) and her mother Barbara (Kate Burton) as they tend to the family patriarch’s final hours. After his death, Barbara attempts a dark ritual to resurrect him, unleashing terrifying forces.
Despite pressure from producers to shorten the family drama and accelerate the horror elements, Max insisted on a slow build focused on deep characterization. “If you jump right into the scary stuff without developing the characters, it all becomes meaningless,” she explained.
Max faced skepticism about the marketability of the mother-daughter relationship, but secured a supportive team and financier who shared her vision. The film’s claustrophobic, repetitive caregiving scenes draw inspiration from Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman, creating a tense, trapped atmosphere.
Aware that slow-burn horror isn’t for everyone, Max embraces the anxiety-inducing pace as integral to the story’s authenticity. She also navigated personal challenges in depicting a relationship partly inspired by her own with her mother, ensuring her family’s approval before moving forward.
The Surrender premiered to warm reception at South by Southwest, and Max found comfort in connecting with fellow genre filmmakers who understand the struggle to stay true to one’s vision.
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