One of a Kind

Rating: 10/10 (1 February 2019)

Darren Aronofsky's "Mother!" is not what one would expect for a typical horror movie. It transcends the genre, if even it could be considered horror. The film follows a couple who seem to have a perfect life with a house too big for the two of them to live in. Their lives were, the audience believes, completely mundane... until there was a knock at the door.
This first knock on the door is really what sets the whole movie in to motion. Jennifer Lawrence's character is disturbed that a complete stranger showed up to their house that is located in the middle of nowhere, while Javier Barderm's "Him" (that's literally his name, no names are given in this film) is elated that the stranger wants to talk about his poems that have garnered many fans. To say much more than the titular "mother" is quite upset at the uninvited houseguests that follow in the footsteps of the first visitor would take away from some of the best points of the film.
Be prepared to be totally bewildered after your first viewing. That's part of the charm. Keep your eyes peeled for religious allegories as well, which are subtle enough not to be too overt. It was fresh to see a filmmaker who has been in the public consciousness for a while take a risk in something that is made. I urge anyone reading this review not to be turned away by the admittedly odd premise, but strap in for a ride that will have you unpacking what you have watched in this film for a good while.