An Isolated Life Invaded by Unwelcome Houseguests

Javier Bardem and Jennifer Lawrence in "Mother!
Photo Credit: Imdb.com

Darren Aronofsky is a filmmaker who has taken audiences to some bleak places over the years.  He brought us into a drug-induced underworld in “Requiem for a Dream,” an aging wrestler’s quest for redemption in “The Wrestler,” and a young, perfectionist ballerina’s crumbling psyche in “Black Swan.”  He always manages to go right into these characters’ minds and shows the deep issues that are coursing through the trenches of their minds.

Aronofsky brings his dark ambitions to a new, but sometimes over-the-top territory in his psychological-horror film, “Mother!”  Despite not being one of Aronofsky’s best movies, it’s nevertheless a worthy moviegoing experience because of how it dares you to leave your comfort zone.

Out in the countryside in a secluded house, an unnamed wife and husband (Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem) live a life a tranquility.  However, that soon comes to an end when a mysterious couple (Michelle Pfeiffer and Ed Harris) shows up on their doorstep, and they seem to know the husband.  If I explain anything else, it will lead to spoilers.

Jennifer Lawrence delivers an intense performance as a wife who must gain back control of her life after their visitors refuse to leave.  Seeing her peacefulness at the start of the film makes her all the more sympathetic because we then see it break her down into fragility until she has to harness her strength to fight back in the end.

Javier Bardem, in a low-key role, is nevertheless unsettling as someone who’s much, much more than he’s letting on to his wife.  He could be charming and caring in one scene, and then ignorant of his wife in the next, leaving the viewer to wonder about the nature of his connection to the visiting couple.

Michelle Pfeiffer is the highlight of the film as the overly intrusive and inquisitive wife of Harris’ character.  Whenever she’s on screen, you can’t help but feel a bit of giddiness because of how unfiltered her character is.  With these traits, you can see some parallels between Pfeiffer and Ruth Gordon’s portrayal of Minnie Castevet in the horror classic, “Rosemary’s Baby.”  Speaking of which, if some of the marketing for this film leads you to believe this is a secret (and unnecessary) remake of that film, don’t worry, because it’s not.

Cinematographer Matthew Libatique, who’s a frequent collaborator with Aronofsky, utilizes tight close-ups of the actors throughout the film to give us a sense of the privacy-invading anxiety that’s being experienced.  Through these shots, we feel the incessant heat that Lawrence’s character feels from everyone else as they try to worm their way into her life and throw it out of balance.

Aronofsky’s screenplay will certainly cause some polarization amongst audiences, as the story goes in a direction you never expect.  The first half of the film, which is the portion I favor the most, is an eerie slow-burn, bringing us into the sense of unease that Lawrence’s character feels.  But, the second half includes events that cast the movie into full-blown chaos, which sort of takes away from the psychological chills that came before.  However, I will say the last few minutes offer a conclusion that’s worthy of much discussion, and the religious undertones that the film exhibits will also spur conversations.  In the end, no matter how many theories you have towards the film’s meaning, you’ll probably feel compelled to see it a second time in order to dissect the story some more.

Although the movie doesn’t always work, credit has to be given to Aronofsky for making a project as out-there as this because “Mother!” is the type of movie that will either have people praising it or shaking their heads in frustration.  And the latter is understandable because there are events in the final half hour that will turn off some viewers; and that may be an understatement, seeing as the film displays some of the most intense imagery you’ll see in any movie this year. 

While “Mother!” isn’t exactly one of the best film’s of 2017, and its narrative and filmmaking style will prove divisive for audiences, I still recommend you view this movie because it’s always a rewarding experience to sit through something that challenges the viewer with its boldness in vision.  You may like it, or you may dislike it.  All I can say is that you should take the dark plunge and see for yourself.

Final Grade: B