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Under Her Control
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
A surrogacy deal goes violently wrong; peril, language, sex.
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Under Her Control
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What's the Story?
In UNDER HER CONTROL, Beatriz (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon), in her late 40s, is a successful designer who came from nothing and now runs a fashion empire. Seeing Beatriz as an inspiration and role model, young Sofia (Cumelen Sanz) wants to climb the corporate ladder to the top. When she lands a job with Beatriz, they become close, and Sofia starts sacrificing her love relationship with Nacho (Alex Pastrana) to devote herself to success. When she finds she's pregnant, she keeps it secret, hoping it won't derail her career. Too religious to have an abortion, she shares the news only with Beatriz, who hatches a scheme -- complete with contract, lawyer, and a large sum of money -- to persuade Sofia to tell Nacho that she's out of town for work through her entire pregnancy. Secrecy is vital since the deal is illegal, but Sofia gets antsy cooped up without her boyfriend in an isolated villa, surveilled and imprisoned. The backlash is nasty and bloody.
Is It Any Good?
Horror music signals early on that the often deft Under Her Control isn't going to be a cozy story about a pregnant girl giving her baby to a rich woman. The vibe is closer to the ominous Rosemary's Baby, only Beatriz doesn't have the devil's powers to keep Sofia in line. Instead, she locks her up in a luxury getaway that soon feels like a prison. Performances are nuanced and believable as a woman used to having her way has to play the role of a supportive and understanding caretaker, all while planning to betray her surrogate. It's nicely paced, but the horror ahead is so clearly signaled that the ending doesn't pack much of a punch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how this movie depicts a power dynamic: the wealthy and connected versus lower-class up-and-comers. How does that juxtaposition tie into elements common in the horror genre?
The movie suggests that both parties to the agreement are opportunists and liars. Who do you side with? Is it difficult to decide? Why?
What does the movie say about how desperate people without financial resources are to get ahead? Would you do anything for money? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: August 31, 2022
- Cast: Aitana Sanchez-Gijon , Cumelen Sanz , Alex Pastrana
- Director: Fran Torres
- Inclusion Information: Female writers
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 109 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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