You give, and you give, and you give. It's just never enough." Perhaps the most abstract film I've watched since Shutter Island - Darren Aronofsky's Mother! is a psychological horror based on the nightmares of a mother. In my opinion, this movie perfectly depicts all the things that I believe my own mother would be distressed by. This has all the makings of being a paranoia-inducing film that will make you question your privacy, your identity and your own role in life - whether you're a mother or not. The concept itself has a great premise and ending, but along the way, the film loses itself in sloppy screenwriting and forgetting to inform the audience of its own intentions. Aronofsky's attempt at horror is commendable, but I think the build-up required more exposition for the audience to be fully invested.
To begin with, I'd like to praise the cast for their emotionally-resonant performances - never is there any doubt that these characters feel all that happens around them. Every horrific occurrence is reinforced with Jennifer Lawrence's gut-wrenching emotion, made even more prominent by the fact that the camera follows her around the house for the majority of the film. Javier Bardem plays a more sincere character than usual, which means he gets the chance to explore his acting skills a bit more (much better than Pirates of the Caribbean ever gave him a chance). His character revelation towards the end is more meaningful with Bardem's performance of love and devotion that is so obsessive it's almost terrifying. Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer also provide great supporting roles, meaning there's a few more layers of intrigue to explore. Pfeiffer certainly has an evil turn as her character questions Lawrence's character for her failed attempts at motherhood. I think a lot of people will find the film frustrating, simply because there are barely any answers to anything until the final moments. Some might call it tedious as events unfold with nary an explanation until the revelation is finally given as to why the audience is subjected to the relationship of a writer and his wife in a formerly-destroyed house. There's a lot of small details to take in, and everything soon becomes overwhelming when the mother starts to become surrounded by the hordes of people who come to visit her home unannounced. In truth, it's a harrowing experience to find a stranger wandering your house or using your facilities without even asking for permission. Let alone thousands of people. There are a lot of themes to explore, and it's why I'd recommend (if you have the patience), to watch this film a number of times to pick up on the symbolism and dramatic irony that is riddled within the film. Small moments such as when the mother's baby kicks inside her womb, her husband has opened the front door. A subtle, yet interesting, detail that could mean the difference in this film between reality and insanity. In particular, her husband (known as Him in the credits) is worshipped almost as a deity following the publishing of his new poem, which leads to the mayhem that ensues in their home, and ultimately leads to the death of her baby. This surprising and incredibly claustrophobic portrayal of obsession is perhaps a mirror of modern day obsession, and the violence that develops from that obsession can be the death of that obsession, ironically. This is one of the many abstract elements that continues to fascinate me about this film. Not only has Aronofsky decided to touch on the emotional variations of the mother, but also on the thematic importance of a deity and his subjects - made even more horrific when her baby is embroiled in the obsession. One thing that can't be faulted in this film, is the sharp and disorientating directing. The camerawork is so visceral and flexible that it can make the audience feel sickened by the events around the mother or by her side. Aronofsky's decision to stick by Jennifer Lawrence throughout the film means that there's more meaning in the portrayal - perhaps she is the only window into this strange world. Moments such as when she sometime steps outside and can only hear silence, coupled with whenever she touches the house, she can see a heart beating, gradually transforming into a blackened heart as the story goes on. The writer and director has clearly thought out everything, but perhaps in making the film he has forgotten to take us along with him. Unfortunately, due to the lack of explanation for all the small references, and some strange decisions made by the characters, we're left blindsided by the onslaught of story. Equally, the screenwriting doesn't provide enough detail to explain the different reasons for all the people who turn up at her house, especially during the maniacal raids. Lastly, this is an incredibly violent film. From the beginning, it may not seem as though anything is coming to fruition, but as the strange events move forward, you start to feel uncomfortable for the mother as she is subjected to all sorts of psychological torture, sometimes unwittingly by her husband. The scenes involving her newborn baby are some of the most horrific scenes I've seen in my lifetime, and it underlines the heavy thematic subjects that Aronofsky wanted to question. Obsession is an incredibly dangerous emotion to have, and it can sometimes lead to the most devastating of conclusions. The one main concept I fully understood about this movie is that home is where the heart is. The perfect loop that Aronofsky creates inside the story at the beginning and denouement is well explained, and the significance of the jewel precious to him is also given clarity. In that respect, the symbolism is incredibly poignant and transcends the role of a mother as someone who provides warmth and comfort to a house that might as well be a skeleton of its former self. But, it's just a shame that this simple concept is bogged down in many other themes that Aronofsky wanted to raise. Nevertheless, the combination of powerful directing and performances, plus the complete lack of soundtrack, makes this a film you won't forget quickly. 7.5/10
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AuthorA very passionate Welsh nerd... Archives
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