Hunter (Haley Bennett) is a newly pregnant housewife in a picture perfect life. Her husband Richie (Austin Stowell) and his family are incredibly wealthy and the couple have just moved into a beautiful mansion. One day though, Hunter is drawn to a marble and the desire to swallow it and the release it gives her compels her to continue to find inedible objects to swallow.

The medical term for a compulsion to swallow inedible objects is called Pica. It is a condition that is brought about by stress and iron deficiencies and is most commonly seen in children under the age of six or pregnant women. But writer/director Carlo Mirabella-Davis is not interested in drawing our attention to this medical condition, they are interested in how Hunter uses it to give her an element of control she has sorely lacked her entire life.

Hunter’s life may look perfect but she is insignificant to all those around her. Her family have never been there for her and her husband and his parents simply see her as a vessel to deliver the future CEO of their company. She is talked over, ignored and entirely subservient to them. So when the opportunity arises to take control of one facet of her life stumbles upon her, she takes it. And the look of elation and joy on her face after that first difficult swallow is a sight to behold. In fact Haley Bennett’s performance in this film is special to watch. The sadness she exudes, the way she feels out of control internally but calm on the exterior and the emotions written all over her face are incredible.

Hunter can not keep her secret forever though. As an ultrasound on her pregnant belly reveals items that should not be there she is rushed into surgery. Richie and his parents reaction is simply to try to control her even further which pushes Hunter on a path to confront her past and take control of her own body and life.

Swallow has been defined as a horror film but I think that is a stretch. The very small parts of the film that show the acts of swallowing and what it does to Hunter’s body will physically repulse you and make you wince with revulsion. But I am not sure that is enough to define this as horror. This is much more of a drama that focuses on psychological trauma and toxic relationships in a similar way to The Invisible Man earlier this year. Either way the film is fascinating and I highly recommend it.