Hatching (Finnish: Pahanhautoja) is a 2022 Psychological Body Horror directed by Hanna Bergholm in her directorial debut and starring Siiri Solalinna, Sophia Heikkilä, Jani Volanen, and Reino Nordin. It tells the story of twelve-year-old Tinja (Solalinna), a gymnast who tries desperately hard to please her mother without much by way of success. One day, she finds an egg in the forest and decides to take it home with her, soon discovering that it feeds on her repressed emotions. The more it grows, the more difficult it is for her to hide it, and that's before it hatches.
It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on 23rd January 2022 and received a theatrical release in its native Finland on 4th March 2022 and a limited release in the US on 29th April 2022.
Hatching provides examples of:
- Annoying Younger Sibling: Matias is this to Tinja.
- Coming of Age Story: A rather twisted one at that.
- Downer Ending: Mother finds out about Alli, and goes to stab her. When she does, Tinja jumps in front of Alli to protect her, meaning that she's the one who gets stabbed instead. She crumples to the floor, dead, and blood dribbles into Alli's mouth, completing her transformation. Alli croaks "Mother" at a very shocked Mother and stands up. Cue credits.
- Establishing Character Moment: Mother gently cradles the crow that interrupts her livestream and it looks like she's going to take it outside... but suddenly breaks its neck instead, telling Tinja to get rid of the body.
- Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": The parents are merely known as Mother and Father throughout the film.
- Heroic Sacrifice: When Mother tries to stab Alli, Tinja jumps in front of the knife.
- Stage Mom: Mother forced Tinja into gymnastics and is adamant that she win a spot in an upcoming competition.
- Only Sane Man: Handyman Tero is this, being the only character to connect with Tinja and try to understand her.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Tero throws Mother and Tinja out of his house and tells Mother than Tinja "has issues".
- The Unfavorite: Matias has shades of this, since his parents' attention is focused on his older sister. Likely a reason for his near-constant acting out.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Tinja is this for her influencer mother.
- Your Cheating Heart: Mother cheats on Father with Tero.
