'Mother!' Movie Review

Released: 15th September 2017 (US and UK)

Length: 121 Minutes

Certificate: 18

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris, Michelle Pfeiffer, Domnhall Gleeson, Brian Gleeson and Kristen Wiig

While many films today opt for a tried-and-true formula designed to appeal to as many audiences as possible and up the profits, others go against the grind to deliver an often-controversial film-going experience. After some diversions, Darren Aronofsky has returned to his unnerving style with Mother!, a film whose harrowing depths are just as impactful as its performances.

Taking place entirely within a countryside house, Mother! follows a couple played by Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem (whose names, along with the rest of the cast are deliberately undefined by the narrative) who look to bring happiness and life to their home. When another couple arrives at the house (played by Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer) and starts to make things quite awkward, their intrusion mutates into a crowded problem which begins to tear the house and the characters within to pieces. What starts out as a seemingly normal tale quickly becomes something much more complicated, taking place entirely from Lawrence’s perspective. The plot of Mother! cannot be explained in literal terms; instead, without giving anything away, the film takes on an allegorical focus that is best left discovered on your own; the tension between the characters continues to build and boil over into full-on hostility. By the final act, I was left speechless by how intense the film was, the way it piled on so much horrific imagery, warping its opening act into something sadistic.

The characters of Mother! may not have much depth or background to them, but this is also intentional, allowing the performances to engage the audience. Jennifer Lawrence is phenomenal here; the break-down and sheer horror she conveys as the house goes downhill is masterfully acted; this is contrasted against Javier Bardem’s more calmer mannerisms; he means well but his intentions often lead to ever-worsening outcomes. The house becomes a character in itself, showing visible injury and a decaying effect as things go on. The visitors to the house stand as opposites to Lawrence’s character, pictures of excess that eventually devolve into the worst aspects of humanity. The only issue with the characters is that by the time the third act comes about, many of the main roles are pushed aside, particularly those played by the Gleeson brothers, their role in the film’s imagery and action reduced significantly; the quantity of people on screen at once drastically increases which only adds to the chaos that envelopes the house.

The visuals of Mother! feel deceivingly ordinary at first, taking on an intimate approach and closely following Jennifer Lawrence around much of the house, with only a few camera positioning tricks delivering a few starling moments. Through it all the film is silent, placing more emphasis on the ction happening visually. It keeps up this status quo, that sense of normality, but as the film dives into the surreal, the camerawork and effects become more twisted, morphing parts of the setting into some truly disturbing images. From here, everything goes sideways as the film’s symbolic trappings take hold; as Lawrence moves through the house, each room morphs into a nasty image which grows more grotesque, reaching a crescendo of gory disgust. This is where the film makes its ultimate mark on the audience, something few films can match.

Mother! is like nothing else you’ll see this year; just like Aranofsky’s previous work it’s sinister and boldly unflinching in its efforts to shock the audience. This kind of overwhelming thematic bombardment won’t sit well with everyone, but for those looking for a drastically different alternative to the big blockbusters, this easily reaches the top of the list.

Rating: 4/5 Stars (Great)