Review of Goodnight Mommy (2015) by Matt C — 02 Oct 2015

Goodnight Mommy is a great example of a movie that works best if you go into it cold. I won't spoil anything here, but if you really want to get the full experience of this movie, go into it while reading as little as possible of it.

Part of the thrill of the movie is its unpredictability, so read this review only if you don't care about seeing a creepy, atmospheric Austrian horror film where a pair of twins think that their mother has been replaced by a creepy woman wearing a slew of bandages after extensive facial surgery.

Anyways, what works so wonderfully about Goodnight Mommy is its quietness. This movie really does mine tension out of inaction, whether it's from seeing the two twins wander around outside or from watching their creepy-ass mother watch them from afar.

The movie has some great cinematography, particularly in its wide shots of windows or the house where virtually the entire film takes place. Shadows are prevalent as well, making the movie maintain a more "highbrow" edge.

It's the quieter side of Goodnight Mommy that ultimately makes it more disturbing, though, as it does a really good job of playing with who the protagonist is and who the antagonist is and definitely plays with expectations--that's all that I'll say about that for avoiding spoilers.

The movie's latter third is unexpectedly crazy, though, but it manages to work. It gets surprisingly brutal towards the end. I've seen far more graphic, but there are some moments that are sure to make audiences squirm.

It doesn't feel pointless, though, since the violence doesn't feel pointedly cruel or mean-spirited--it feels cathartic and fun in a twisted sort of way. In the end, the only real thing keeping Goodnight Mommy from reaching two thumbs up status is that it probably won't keep as much of its wonder upon a second viewing since there are such surprising twists along the way, but this is still a great movie.

In fact, it's the best horror movie to hit American theaters in 2015. It has a strong sense of direction and pacing to it to give it artistic credibility, and it also has a ton of stuff to satisfy more contemporary horror audiences towards its end.

It's a tricky combination that pays off really well, making for something beautiful, demented, and with layers. 8.6/10, great, one thumb up, above average, etc.