TIFF Film Review: "mother!" (2017).

"Seeing is believing" in mother! This psychological horror film written and directed by Darren Aronofsky. A couple's relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence.

After 2014's Noah, Aronofsky began working on a children's film. During that process, he came up with a new idea. Originally entitled Day 6, which ultimately became mother!, he ended up writing the first draft in just five days. The film uses a dream-logic narrative, of which Aronofsky has noted, "if you try to unscrew it, it kind of falls apart," and that "it's a psychological freak-out. You shouldn't over-explain it." Michelle Pfeiffer admitted not understanding the script the first time she read it, describing it as "esoteric." According to Aronofsky his inspirations for the film included Luis Buñuel's The Exterminating Angel (1962) and Susan Griffin's 1978 book Women and Nature. In October 2015, Jennifer Lawrence was reportedly in talks to star in the film. Lawrence had dropped out of The Rosie Project (2019) in order to work with Aronofsky on this film. Lawrence met with Aronofsky to hear his ideas before there was a script. After she read the script, she said she was so shaken by it that she threw it across the room. In January 2016, Javier Bardem was in talks to star opposite Lawrence. By March, Ed Harris, Michelle Pfeiffer, Domhnall Gleeson, and Kristen Wiig had rounded out the film's cast. Filming began in mid June, and concluded in late August. Prior to the start of principal photography, the cast rehearsed for three months in a warehouse, during which time Aronofsky was able to "get a sense of movement and camera movement, and learn from that." The film was shot using 16 mm film. This is the fourth time Aronofsky has shot a film on this format. During the shoot, Lawrence got so much into her character that during the climactic scenes, she started hyperventilating and even cracked a rib. The film originally had a score composed by Jóhann Jóhannsson, but after seeing the 90 minute score synced up with a rough cut of the film, Aronofsky and Jóhannsson agreed not to use the original score. They experimented with using the score at only a few moments, or instead using a new minimal score focused on sound design that incorporated noises into the soundscape of the house. Ultimately, they went with the second choice, and Jóhannsson's work merged with the sound design of Craig Henighan. The release date was originally set for October 13, but it was pushed forward to September 15.

The film stars Lawrence, Bardem, Harris, Pfeiffer, Gleeson, and Wiig. The cast gave intense and enigmatic performances that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and make you endlessly ponder about each character long after the credits roll.

Dramatically gripping and frighteningly smart, mother! does wonders with its confusing yet intriguing subject matter. The film has an intense and visceral impact, largely thanks to Aronofsky's direction—and a bravura performance from Lawrence.

Simon says mother! receives:

Also, see my reviews for Noah and Mary Shelley.