FEARFULLY FACETIOUS
Movie Review – “Goodnight Mommy”
Review by Ray Schillaci
It’s been quite a while since the last time I saw a movie that was so devilishly deceptive as Austria’s “Goodnight Mommy”. It’s a slow burn foreign horror, that for some, may not fulfill their thriller/horror needs, but for those with more patience that do not mind the long shots that build suspense, trying to throw you off balance, it can be rewarding.
Directors Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz bring to the screen a craftsman-like thriller veiled as a supernatural tale. Twin boys, Lukas and Elias, have an inseparable relationship and at first come across just like normal siblings. But there are little odd things, like their collection of what appears to be extra large roaches as pets, that make us wonder about these two. Then there is their mother, who appears to have been in some kind of accident that has her face hidden by bandages.
Her odd behavior (i.e. – ignoring one of the twins) ignites suspicion that she may not be who she claims to be. This sets the twins off to investigate and sometimes their imagination gets the best of them, and us. The story takes on unusual twists like that of early 2015’s American film “The Gift”, where we thought the film was about one thing, and then it jumped tracks to a whole different theme that blew audiences away. “Goodnight Mommy” has a similar effect, except it is far more gruesome than the “The Gift”‘s finale.
Fiala and Franz play to our suspicions and slowly begin to turn the tables on us. They seem to indulge in disturbing images, and eventually amp up the squeamish quotient to a near breathless point that had the audience around me gasping. For some, it is almost too much, which has garnered some “torture porn” criticism. I believe it’s unjustified to label it as such. This film is far too complex to toss it out as mere “torture porn”.
Once again, there are those who are used to a “normal” Blumhouse-type horror movie that will complain about its pacing. This is not a film that relies on hideous demons, vengeful ghosts or the usual jump scares. This is horror for art-house goers. It’s laced with beautiful imagery that gets tainted with things the average person would rather not see. It taxes the nerves and the brain, making you work for an explanation, and eventually giving you a chilling revelation.
**BIG SPOILER**
Now, if you are a true horror cinephile, you may be like me and be reminded of some classic twin movies, specifically Robert Mulligan’s much-touted 1972 horror mystery “The Other” or Brian De Palma’s classic horror thriller “Sisters”. Both were huge back in the day, and are remembered lovingly by genre fans. “Goodnight Mommy” is a nice snug fit between these other twins of horror. Unfortunately for this critic, the McGuffin was guessed ten minutes into the film which lessened the impact considerably, but that does not mean that I did not appreciate the broad strokes of dread that kept me on the edge of my seat.
Directed by: Severin Fiala & Veronika Franz
Release Date: September 11, 2015
Run Time: 99 Minutes
Country: Austria
Rated: R
Distributor: RADiUS-TWC
