A shocking film that the right people will love

Rating: 10/10 (17 March 2018)

Going further in the unconventional department, "mother!" is many viewers' cup of hemlock, and without question 2017's most revolutionary, and perhaps offensive, film. Unfortunately I cannot say much without spoiling the whole thing so I need to skirt around its plot and, even more carefully, its meaning. Perhaps one might label it a psychological horror film but that is so inadequate since, as its 'meaning' becomes clear (if the viewer ever does figure it out), it truly becomes something else.
Directed at high intensity by the formidable Darren Aronofsky (whose previous best was probably 2008's "The Wrestler", though "mother!" more resembles his earlier nightmare, "Requiem of a Dream"), its basic plot follows a young nameless woman (Jennifer Lawrence) who seems to have a tranquil life with her husband (also unnamed, played by Javier Bardem) until their country home is disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious couple (Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer). They are also unnamed. The film proceeds slowly at first - almost exclusively from the woman's point of view - gathering pitch until all hell breaks out, and we are truly in the world of Hieronymus Bosch, although 'earthly delights' will not be forthcoming. I loved every minute of this nightmare, god help me, but most of all when the pieces began to come together after my second viewing, something which some viewers might feel t'would constitute a medieval torture far worse than being drawn and quartered. Without being able to detail it any further, I want to emphasize how important this film is as a work of art and how, if strong stomach permits, you really need to give it multiple viewings.
Praised around the world by many critics, it was also booed at its premiere at the 74th Venice Film Festival (along with a strong standing ovation). Although misanthrope critic Rex Reed gave the film 'zero stars', many acclaimed it, most notably filmmaker Martin Scorsese, who ecstatically raved, "Only a true, passionate filmmaker could have made this picture, which I'm still experiencing weeks after I saw it." Brilliant in every way, and a masterpiece of surrealism, Dadaism, radicalism and Lewis Carroll-ism. And if you see it and manage to unlock its levels of meaning and the impact of it starts to seep into your consciousness, you might need to lie down on your local psychiatrist's couch.