My first introduction to what a Beldham was was through Coraline. The term refers to an older woman or hag who possesses mystical powers, feeding on the lifeforce of others. In other terms, she is a witch. While today, witches often have this sexy, feminine allure to them, witches still hold that fearful power over us, especially if you are in any sort of weakened state — like having recently had a baby. The Beldham introduces the concept of a crow-like witch that preys on the weak with terrifying accuracy.
A struggling new mother fights a generations-old presence lurking within her family home, threatening her safety, her sanity, and the life of her infant child.
The Beldham, IMDB
Harper (Katie Parker) and her infant daughter return to her mother Sadie’s (Patricia Heaton) home after an unnamed accident, keen on helping her mother prep the home for sale. Not soon after, Harper and her daughter are bombarded by apparitions of crows, frightening Harper into wanting to leave for fear of her daughter’s safety. But at every turn, Sadie, her boyfriend Frank (Corbin Bernsen), and live-in assistant Bette (Emma Fitzpatrick) forcefully keep her within arms reach. Harper and Bette’s budding friendship isn’t enough to stop the constant haunting by the Beldham, as well as Sadie’s insistence that nothing is wrong as that it is all in Harper’s head.
The Beldham is every mother’s worst nightmare. With multiple factors going on — mental stability, postpartum hormones, not being believed by loved ones when something bad happens, a whole-ass witch coming to take your baby away — it’s no wonder Harper is constantly on the edge. The Beldham sets the stage with flashbacks of the original tragedy of a baby’s death, then keeps pushing the story with little hints toward a bigger issue (the entity in the house) and climaxes with the ultimate betrayal — Sadie calls welfare services and keeps Harper away from her baby.
I am definitely out of the thick of the newborn stage with a now 5-year old at this point, but my anxiety level was through the roof watching this. The Beldham may look like a mother’s worst nightmare on surface level (and don’t get me wrong, it is), but I think anyone can relate on some level to the story. As I mentioned above, being accosted by some crow witch is bound to get people riled up. Plus, the thought of silently losing your mind and being put away for it is another level of fear. Usually I can watch a film and figure out what I would do in a situation, but The Beldham left me stumped, and even more so, defeated.
And that’s the true power of The Beldham. Sure, the creature design was wickedly beautiful, maintaining that folky sinister-ness to make it a true threat. And the ending left me in awe, replaying the entire thing in my head and seeing all of the poignant plot points in an entirely new light. But the general feeling of the movie was as panic-inducing as, well… the thought of losing your child and no one helping to stop it.
The Beldham did a few things that I want to commend writer/director Angela Gulner on. It brought the folklore and mystique back to witches in horror. It provided a genuine fear that lasted throughout the entire movie. And I think most importantly, it brought taboo subjects to light, like pregnancy, postpartum illnesses, and loss. The Beldham is equal parts chilling and hysteria-inducing.
Stream The Beldham now on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and more. Follow The Beldham and Angela Gulner on Instagram for more.
I watched this last night – and enjoyed! I’m excited to see what’s next for Angela Gulner on the directing path.
I am too! I was surprised at how scary it was — but probably because I could relate on some level 😅 It’s funny how horror has a way of healing past traumas. Or making you empathetic to others’ issues.