MOTHERS' INSTINCT // MOVIE REVIEW
This movie sort of reminds me of my childhood days when our mothers forbade us to eat in our neighbours’ houses unless given the permission to.
Even when we try to go against their instructions, their body language alone, in addition to the bombastic side eyes, one would quickly get a brain reset.
Our mothers’ instincts game card, though seemingly overly exaggerated at times, was strong and may have just saved many of us, if we could be true to ourselves enough to admit so. Funny how we grow older and subconsciously adopt it.
PLOT
This psychological thriller, Mothers' instinct, set in the 1960s - given their costumes; hair, outfits, makeup, vintage cars, buildings and all,- features Anne Hathaway (as Celine Jennings) and Jessica Chastain (as Alice Bradford) as neighbours who both have sons of similar age; Max and Theo respectively.
It showcases the inner battles that go on in a mother’s head in fending off any form of attack that threatens her child, which could easily be perceived by others as paranoia accompanied sometimes by a mistaken diagnosis.
This is seen in Alice’s jumpy reactions after she attempts to save Celine’s son (Max) from falling off a balcony when he tries to hang a school project, but most unfortunately, he falls to his deäth.
The relationship between the two neighbors takes a downward trajectory thereafter as we would expect. An accident but someone needs to take the blame so someone can find some form or respite, right?
Alice’s instincts kept reassuring her that Celine was up to no good, yet as her husband Simon (Anders Danielsen Lie) threatens to commit her (sectioned under the mental act), Alice quickly accepts that she isn’t well in the head.
MY THOUGHTS
That! That’s where I have the most problem with the movie. See, if this movie had starred upcoming unknown actors in the Hollywood industry, it wouldn’t see the light of day or, at best, some good reviews.
The plot and storyline, though a good one, leaves certain questionable loopholes with the ending to cap it up that one can hardly give it a high score.
Firstly, the movie is a slow burner which ever so gradually builds up till it climaxes but then plummets and wraps up in a rushed manner that the end kinda leaves one with “so what are we supposed to take home from this? sort of feeling.
I love an unpredictably twisted end. I love an ending that deviates from the usual but not when there were obvious reasons to suspect the supposed victim, yet she’s allowed to roam free.
Now, unless there’s a sequel to this film showing a series of investigation opened up later on, for instance to the gas leak that claims the couple’s lives, then this movie has failed to deliver what it should and is a slap to its title.
The men in the movie too were sort of passive and were not given as much powers, well neither were the women except for the villain who had all the premise to perpetrate her evil! Typical of the genre, I’d say!
This had my emotions all over the place, just like the plot of the movie. Theo’s outburst, too, at the funeral of his friend Max, kept me wondering whether a child that age would really go crying over his toy being placed inside the casket of his bosom friend?
That action by Celine was already a tip-off. This movie tried to highlight the effects the loss of an only child could cause to a woman’s mental health. However, instead of focusing on the way out, the director tilts towards making it her superpower to perpetrate evil.
You know, one one hand, i did not like that the lady had her way. Likeow can she kill three grown adults and get away with it??
I thought that it's the kind of film that promotes certain agendas and behaviors that aren’t good for our society. Means don’t always justify the end, and the fact that the movie portrayed that a person can get away with such heinous acts is unsettling.
On the other hand, i liked how it ended. It was heartbreaking but twisted in a different way. People get away with a lot in real life, so I'm not mad she got away with it. It gives the movie a very real touch.
You can say say that I was torn between the realities and sides of the story.
Anyways, it’s just a movie! Regardless of its shortcomings, the message is clear “mothers, trust your instincts well enough and do not allow anyone gaslight you into second guessing yourself." Well, not just mothers, everyone should take the message.
It's a good watch all the same.
Thanks for gracing this post.
Greetings!
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