Creepy twins? Check. Domineering mother? Check. Frightening masks? Hissing cockroaches? A newly acquired pet? A priest? A cemetery? Cornfields? Plot twist? All present and accounted for. Goodnight Mommy contains some timeworn horror movie tropes, but instead of relying on clichés, it elevates the formula. The sampling synthesizes these elements into something entirely new and surprisingly innovative. Horror, arthouse cinema or psychological thriller, it’s all of these and more. I dare say within its framework, I faced a small handful of the most uniquely disquieting images I have ever seen. You can’t unsee these things. The concepts are creatively unsettling.
Goodnight Mommy is the first narrative feature from filmmakers Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala. Ever since it had its world premiere at last year’s Venice Film Festival, the movie has built up a solid reputation of positive buzz. In September it was even submitted as Austria’s 2015 Oscar entry for Best Foreign Language Film. Flashback: fellow countryman Michael Haneke’s Amor won the award for Austria back in 2012. Interestingly Goodnight Mommy actually recalls the chilly isolation of Michael Haneke’s work, particularly with his Funny Games. Even the similar setting, a gorgeous estate by the lake, is incongruously tranquil for a horror flick.
The writer-director team of Franz and Fiala take the sacred bond that exists between a mother and her children and shatters it to pieces. In their deconstruction, the chronicle plays out slowly, but at the climax, the dysfunction reaches a boiling point. Elias and Lukas are nine-year-old twin boys enjoying the summer in a modernist lake house made of steel and glass. Things seem fairly idyllic until mother shows up. Father is not in the picture. Mother’s appearance is obscured, her face wrapped in bandages, apparently the result of some facial surgery. She is a television presenter so perhaps the procedures were cosmetic. Regardless, her presence now vexes the children. She regresses into more irritable and oppressive, almost malicious, behavior. Is this woman their mother or is she an impostor? The boys have their doubts. What follows is an exploration of identity and trust.
To give any more plot details would be to spoil the delight of discovery. Oh and believe me, this spine-chiller has a few shocking developments. The drama travels down a twisty path that grows ever more grotesque. The descent is so gradual that for most of the duration I was completely on board. The eerie trip mostly relies on psychological horror. If the directors make an error, it’s that they ultimately show more than they should. The flirtation with gore is enough. By the end, the plunge into Grand Guignol crosses the line. Only once, okay maybe twice. The impropriety betrays the dominant milieu of the picture.
In this genre, what often separates the wheat from the chaff is the visual lexicon, that is – the discernible style of the director which is then boldly captured by the cinematographer. Here they artfully flaunt a narrative that manifests anxiety. The dread is palpable. The fact that the ambiguous story is created without much clarification intensifies the air of disorientation. Granted there are a lot of red herrings that purposefully mislead the viewer in ways that don’t always play fair. I still have no idea what that pizza delivery was about. But in a production such as this, the misdirection only heightens the unease. The script skillfully undermines the strength of the familial bonds we hold dear. I won’t soon forget the experience. I just have one nagging question: Why are the Red Cross volunteers in Austria so aggressive?
10-07-15
16 Responses
I had never heard of this before, Mark, but you have peaked my interest. This sounds brilliant. Great review, man!
It has made the rounds at the festival circuit racking up an impressive array of awards. It’s easy to see why. It’s portrayal of horror is rather artistic.
Dude, I know. I was like “Come back later!” I was wondering if [the Red Cross] were going to stay the night. lol.
I saw this one a few months back and still am not really sure what to think about it. I am getting tired of films using that same, now cheap, plot-twist ploy to try to come across so clever. I think it’s lazy now.
But these are typically my favorite kinds of films; european horror/thriller/mysteries – but not all of them pan out for me. This one disappointed me a bit to be honest, as I had high hopes going in. Was still a good film to watch, though. Glad you liked it.
The film is about more than just a plot twist. Although I must admit I didn’t see it coming.
A very messed-up movie. But hey, there’s something fun about that! Nice review Mark.
It’ll be interesting to see if this gets a nomination at the Academy Awards. Definitely not your typical Oscar bait.
Cannot wait to get my hands on this! Early word is that is a fairly shocking film (people passing out in screenings, and whatnot). Not sure if that was all just hyperbole, but either way, should be good! You seem to have enjoyed it well enough! Good review
Passing out? Really?! Hmmm that’s a bit much.
That’s kinda what I thought. I’m sure this film is going to be good, but I can’t help but think it won’t create a stir like The Exorcist or Psycho did when they first came out
I think Saw amd Hostel are worse. However, the final act of the film is disturbing . I looked away from the screen a couple times.
I’ve really wanted to watch this movie ever since I first found out about it. That trailer looked fantastically creepy! When I saw the first bit of your review on my reader, I feared the worst, but I’m glad to see that you found the film satisfying. I love atmospheric, moody psychological horror, so this should be an easy sell for me. Good review!
Yeah I started out my review like I was going to fault the film for being conventional, but then * surprise * it utilized those conventional elements in a fresh way. I actually think all the best horror films do this.
All of the ingredients you mention in your opening sound like a wonderful potion for success. It’s exciting to hear that Goodnight Mommy samples tropes to elevate the material into something new. I’m curious to see it for some of those disquieting images that you can’t unsee, since horror films don’t tend to shock me much these days. Plus, I love me some psychological horror, especially the kind of gradual descent that you talk about. I’m even willing to put up with all those red herrings because it sounds like this movie is worth the ride.
It Follows got all the critical press, but for my money, THIS is the best horror movie of 2015.
I was fooled. Very eerie great movie. The young actors were very good too. I loved this. 4 stars.
I love a good twist.