Hot Milk

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1:47

Hot Milk

R

Jun 2025

1h 33m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

38%

Tomatometer

69 Reviews

50%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Rose (Fiona Shaw) and her daughter Sofia (Emma Mackey) travel to the Spanish seaside town of Almería to consult with the shamanic Dr. Gómez, a physician who could possibly hold the cure to Rose's mystery illness, which has left her bound to a wheelchair. But in the sultry atmosphere of this sun-bleached town Sofia, who has been trapped by her mother’s illness all her life, finally starts to shed her inhibitions, enticed by the persuasive charms of enigmatic traveler Ingrid (Vicky Krieps). Sofia's increased freedom becomes too much for her controlling mother, and as the hot sun beats down, their relationship simmers with pent-up resentments and bitterness, threatening to tear the fragile threads that hold them together, and leading them to a dramatic conclusion.

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Critics Consensus

Lacking narrative momentum and clarity overall, this film's clever destination is upended by a turbulent journey that will leave audiences leaden like a glass of Hot Milk.

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Danny Leigh

Financial Times

Built around two daredevil performances from Fiona Shaw and Emma Mackey, it is jagged and dreamlike at once, the story of a mother and daughter locked in codependence.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 14, 2025

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

I was really gripped by it and I loved the performances, particularly Fiona Shaw.

Jul 12, 2025

Full Review

Drew Gregory

Autostraddle

The script is overwritten, stating things bluntly that have already been communicated — and communicated better — in the silences.

Jul 10, 2025

Full Review

Ellen E Jones

Observer (UK)

This is storytelling that bares its teeth, but it’s not the most comfortable place to spend time.

Oct 7, 2025

Full Review

Juan Pablo Russo

EscribiendoCine

Hot Milk, far from articulating an intimate portrait of motherhood and desire, is marked by the coldness of its approach. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 5/10

Sep 5, 2025

Full Review

Dionar Hidalgo

Algo Más Que Cine

Hot Milk thrives on Emma Mackey’s powerful performance and Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s striking visuals, but its fragmented script weakens the emotional impact, leaving a film as evocative as it is uneven.

Rated: 5/10

Aug 24, 2025

Full Review

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Norm V

Bored me to death due to flat storyline and I even don’t know what truly happened at the end.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/29/25

Full Review

Ghederick Eshmont

Lots of terrible misfires & the film overstays its short runtime, but there are select moments of intrigue to chew on

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/27/25

Full Review

Cristina B

The start of this film nearly made me turn it off, but by the end I was riveted. The disconnected, non-sequitor dialogue comes off like "the room". It was quite grating to listen to the obnoxious mother (Fiona shaw), who spewed rants and criticism, and difficult to empathise with the spiteful scilence of Sophie (Emma Mackey) at the start. The start was made only slightly more bearable by the rather obvious flaunting of Sophie's rockin' bod in braless outfits. Then Ingrid arrives, the perfectly cast version of a lesbian/bisexual f-boy and finally the film, and Sofie's obnoxious character, starts to have some direction. There are many indie tropes, but I still thought this was beautiful and sensual as an indie film should be. The acting by both Mackey and hte mother at the end, when the characters cry at various points, was actually very believable. The ending will have put some off, but I appreciated the bold and original move by the director. The film will be a rough ride for some who are not able to enjoy the lesbian romance angle.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/04/25

Full Review

MB C

Visually stunning but narratively uneven, Hot Milk explores the suffocating bond between a daughter and her demanding mother against the sweltering backdrop of coastal Spain. Emma Mackey and Fiona Shaw deliver layered performances, yet the film’s slow pacing, scattered structure, and overreliance on ambiguity keep it from fully resonating....

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/01/25

Full Review

Nabarun G

I dont understand why the movie has such a low rating. It has its own pace (yes, often jumpy and sluggish at other times) and that might lead to particular opinions, but as someone who at present am witnessing a codependent relationship between a mother and a daughter in real life, I can't put into words how tragically beautiful the storyline is and how heart wrenchingly accurate the moments have been portrayed. I cannot possibly send this movie to that person without a trigger warning.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/15/25

Full Review

Audience Member

The acting is great, but the storyline was boring and there was happening to much to really connect with the carracters. It also has no climax in my opinion.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/30/25

Full Review

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Rebecca Lenkiewicz

Director

Emma Mackey

Sofia

Fiona Shaw

Rose

Vincent Perez

Gomez

Vicky Krieps

Ingrid

Patsy Ferran

Nurse Julieta

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100%

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Hot Milk: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Rose (Fiona Shaw) and her daughter Sofia (Emma Mackey) travel to the Spanish seaside town of Almería to consult with the shamanic Dr. Gómez, a physician who could possibly hold the cure to Rose's mystery illness, which has left her bound to a wheelchair. But in the sultry atmosphere of this sun-bleached town Sofia, who has been trapped by her mother’s illness all her life, finally starts to shed her inhibitions, enticed by the persuasive charms of enigmatic traveler Ingrid (Vicky Krieps). Sofia's increased freedom becomes too much for her controlling mother, and as the hot sun beats down, their relationship simmers with pent-up resentments and bitterness, threatening to tear the fragile threads that hold them together, and leading them to a dramatic conclusion.

Director: Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Producer: Christine Langan, Kate Glover, Giorgos Karnavas
Screenwriter: Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: HanWay Films, Film4
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 27, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 29, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $70.3K
Runtime: 1h 33m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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