Little Joe
dir. Jessica Hausner · 2019
Plot
Alice, a single mother, is a dedicated senior plant breeder at a corporation engaged in developing new species. She has engineered a very special crimson flower, remarkable not only for its beauty but also for its therapeutic value: if kept at the ideal temperature, fed properly and spoken to regularly, this plant makes its owner happy. Against company policy, Alice takes one home as a gift for her teenage son, Joe. They christen it 'Little Joe' but as it grows, so too does Alice's suspicion that her new creations may not be as harmless as their nickname suggests.
Why watch
"Little Joe" masterfully intertwines the beauty of nature with the chilling implications of artificial happiness, exploring the dark side of maternal love and corporate ambition. This psychological horror film invites viewers to question the cost of happiness in a world where nature and technology collide.