20 Movies That Could've Been Horror Movies
5. If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
Mary Bronstein's If I Had Legs I'd Kick You is one of the most anxiety-inducing films about parenthood ever made, with Rose Byrne starring as Linda, a therapist driven to her wits' end by caring for her daughter who suffers from a feeding disorder.
Bronstein's film is technically a psychological drama but she clearly borrows many stylistic tricks from the thriller and horror genres to make audiences as uncomfortable as possible.
For one, the movie is shot incredibly tight for the most part, filled with close-ups and focused almost always on Rose Byrne's frazzled face.
Meanwhile, her daughter's face is never shown, creating an "othering" effect where the child is less humanised than seen as a burden weighing upon Linda throughout.
The entire film has a claustrophobic atmosphere, enhanced by surreal touches like the dilapidated state of Linda's apartment, enough that while the bones of the story are totally realistic, it's realised in a slightly elevated way to match Linda's tortured perception.
With all the great horror movie performances we've seen in recent years, Byrne's Oscar-nominated work should absolutely be counted among it.