Synopsis

Z-MOM is an emotionally charged and terrifying horror-drama that reinvents the zombie apocalypse through the intimate perspective of a mother-daughter bond. Set in the aftermath of a viral outbreak that transforms people into savage creatures, the film tells the story of Sarah (Elisabeth Moss), a single mother infected after a brutal attack but mysteriously spared from fully turning into a zombie.

As a human-zombie hybrid, Sarah battles her growing bloodlust while protecting her daughter, Lily (Brooklynn Prince), in a world where survival is tenuous. Her hybrid state grants her the ability to communicate with the infected, presenting her as both a unique weapon and a liability. Sarah and Lily join forces with a small group led by the pragmatic Dr. Ethan Marks (Oscar Isaac) to uncover the truth behind the virus and her condition.

Key Themes

1. Motherhood in the Apocalypse
At its heart, Z-MOM is about the sacrifices of motherhood. Sarah’s transformation serves as a metaphor for losing oneself in the process of protecting a child. The tension between Sarah’s instincts to protect Lily and her growing monstrous urges provides a deeply emotional throughline.

2. Redemption and Humanity
The film blurs the line between human and monster. Sarah’s struggle to maintain her humanity raises questions about what it truly means to be human in a world that has lost its moral compass.

3. Trust in a Fractured Society
From hostile survivor factions to government experiments, Sarah’s journey exposes the darker sides of human nature, questioning whether humanity’s survival is worth the moral compromises it requires.