Don't believe the trailers!

Rating: 4/10 (18 September 2017)

Went to see Mother! earlier today, and quite honestly, I feel like I've been lied to. If you must go, a warning...do NOT believe the trailers. Mother! is not a horror film, it's not a home invasion thriller, and it's probably not like anything you've ever seen before. Mother! is a two-hour exercise in cinematic torture. OK, maybe that's a little harsh, but I don't particularly enjoy being yelled at for 120 minutes that humanity is destroying the planet. And that's what this art house film disguised as a "home invasion horror" film is...a biblical allegory with an environmental message. The last third of the film is very difficult to watch and some of the visuals are more than disturbing. And I've seen some pretty horrific stuff over the years.
The mistake with Mother! is in the marketing. If you go expecting a standard horror film - even an "out there" horror film - or a home invasion thriller, you'll probably hate it. At the very least, you might feel like you got played. You might even have a WTF moment...or many of them. But I'm not suggesting you stay away. What I would suggest is reading up on the film first. Read some of the good reviews out there that provide some explanations about the purpose of the film and the meanings within the movie; it will not "spoil" anything. If you know what the director is trying to convey, you might better appreciate the message. In my opinion, if you don't know what it's supposed to mean, you'll probably find yourself wondering what the hell is going on halfway through.
This film is from controversial filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, who also directed Black Swan. If you think Black Swan was a bit strange, surreal and just a little off, you haven't seen anything yet. So yes, go see it for what it is - an art house film full of symbolism. But prepare for it first, or you may have to see it again just to understand it.