NZ film Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant is utterly bonkers, spectacularly revolting and enormous fun

Sarah Watt

Film reviewer·New Zealand Listener·

14 Sep, 2026 06:04 PM2 mins to read

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Boy, girl or alien? Yvette Parsons, Hannah Lynch and Jonny Brugh contempate the possibilities. Photo / Supplied

Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant, directed by Sean Wallace and Jordan Dodson, is in cinemas now.

This home-grown horror romcom is utterly bonkers, spectacularly revolting, and enormous fun.

As the title suggests, it’s a tale of a layabout young woman whose close encounter with the strange boy next door has
extraterrestrial consequences. Think early-era Peter Jackson splatter classics, crossed with the straight-faced Kiwi humour of The Educators and you’re part-way there.

Lazy, unmotivated Mary (Hannah Lynch) likes living at home for free with her hippy mum (a hilarious Yvette Parsons). But Mary resents her mother gossiping with new neighbour Ann (played with great earnestness by Jackie van Beek). Apparently, Ann’s introverted son Boo is pathologically shy, due to “a deformed penis”. Her interest piqued, an unfortunate incident in the communal laundry room finds Mary unwittingly impregnated.

I hate to think how they came up with the idea, but Alien Pregnant is the brainchild of New Zealand film-making duo Thunderlips (Sean Wallace and Jordan Dodson), expanded into feature-length from their 2024 short film, which also starred Lynch.

Unusually for a short turned long-form, this story fills out well, as Mary’s unfortunate situation shuttles her between cavalier healthcare professionals, incredulous gynaecologists, and an attempted “connection” with the father of the “baby”.

It’s a breakout role for Lynch, who has a musical career under the name Hun Lynch; her deadpan delivery is enormously endearing. She’s matched by an adorable Arlo Green as Boo, the hapless half-alien whose genitalia are truly out-of-this-world. The supporting cast is rounded out by some familiar faces, which includes a terrific cameo from Karen O’Leary as a paramedic.

If you’re grossed out just reading this, the yuckiness won’t be for you – but my goodness, the film-makers’ use of practical effects, not CGI, make this a delightfully clever body horror. It is in bad taste but it’s certainly not brain dead.

Rating out of five: ★★★★

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