Matriarch is the feature directorial debut of Ben Steiner and explores small-scale horror led by the ghosts of childhood trauma. But the film is a mix of genres, blending folk horror with comedy and incorporating shocking twists and turns. It’s this style that attracted Rooper to the role.

“I loved how kind of quiet and still it starts, and that it’s all about the character, but then it completely surprised me every few pages,” she told ScreenRant. “I was suddenly like, ‘I was not expecting that.’ There were bits that made me laugh, there were bits that are really creepy, there were bits that were just so bonkers. But it was brilliant and really entertaining and a page turner.”

Though there are some significant changes, the film acts as a spiritual successor to Steiner’s short film Urn, which also explores haunting mother-daughter dynamics.

Disney+’s Matriarch is set to be the new British horror film everyone is talking about