Talk about a powerhouse Aussie duo. Milly Alcock, who first burst onto the scene a couple years ago as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon, is joining forces with the ever-versatile Toni Collette in a brand-new survival thriller called Hot Mother. If that title alone doesn’t grab your attention, wait till you hear the premise – it’s chilling in more ways than one.
Collette, of course, is no stranger to horror or emotional intensity. From The Sixth Sense to Hereditary, she’s built a reputation for portraying complex, haunted women. Alcock, meanwhile, continues to prove she’s more than a breakout fantasy star, bringing depth and fire to every role – from The School to James Gunn’s upcoming Superman.
What is the film about?
The film, written and directed by Lucy Knox, expands on her 2020 short of the same name. It centres on a mother and daughter hoping for some quality bonding time at a serene spa retreat. But, as you might have guessed, things take a dark turn fast. Their relaxing getaway turns into a fight for survival when they’re accidentally locked inside a sauna – with no way out and no one around to hear them scream. It’s a claustrophobic nightmare that promises to push both characters – and viewers – to the edge.
Who is involved in the film?
Toni Collette isn’t just starring in the film; she’s also producing it through her company, Vocab Films. She’s joined by producer Alex Coco, who worked on the Oscar-winning Anora, and Carver Films, known for championing rising Australian talent. According to Carver’s Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw, Knox has long been on their radar as a “writer-director with exceptional talent,” and Hot Mother is her big chance to show the world what she can do on a larger scale.
Coco echoed that excitement, praising Knox as “a filmmaker’s filmmaker” and hinting that the project could have strong global appeal – especially with stars like Collette and Alcock front and center. And honestly, who wouldn’t want to see these two tackle a psychological thriller together?
When is it being released?
Filming for Hot Mother kicks off in 2026 in Australia, and while there’s no release date yet, we think we're likely going to see this one at the end of 2026 or early 2027 on screens.
