The Horror Show
Goodnight Mommy
by Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz
I first heard about Goodnight Mommy in an article around the time it was being released. I don't remember the content of the article itself, I only remember three general bits of information: that the movie was Austrian, reported to be intensely creepy, and a simple blurb explaining the synopsis. Those small elements alone were enough to get me excited because the brief description of the plot sounded amazing. Some ideas are so simple and intriguing that I instantly need to check them out, and Goodnight Mommy was certainly one of those cases. Now that I've seen it I can honestly say I wasn't disappointed in the slightest and the wait was well worth it.
Goodnight Mommy, as I previously stated, is a simple concept. Two twins named Lukas and Elias (played by real life twins Lukas and Elias Schwartz) begin to suspect that their mother, who has recently returned from an operation, isn't really their mother at all. The film jumps right in, the strange woman with bandages on her face is already home and acting odd around the children. Their mother was a kind woman who would never act cruelly or violently towards them, but this woman is mean-spirited and at times abusive. She won't even acknowledge one of the twins, adding to the feelings of hostility she suddenly has toward “own children.” It's so bad that the more skittish twin, who seems bullied into not even being allowed to be noticed, has to whisper into his brother’s ear around her since she refuses to accept anything he has to say.
Their “mother” claims that the doctor has given her a specific list of instructions that must be followed. The blinds must be closed and no one is allowed to visit or come into the house. Chores must be followed more strictly than usual and the twins learn to be quiet when she is around. The boys quickly take on the point of view that this is absolutely not their mother and that they must protect themselves from whoever, or whatever, this intruder is. They are also committed to finding out what happened to their mom. When the boys notice her change in demeanor, the mother seemingly tries a new tactic, presenting herself as the kind woman their mother was. But they aren't buying it and stick to their plan of discovery. Elias appears the weaker link, wanting to believe her more than his brother. The mother appears to know this by acting less cold around him and trying to convince him that she is indeed the woman he desperately wants to believe her to still be. But Lukas keeps his brother strong and committed to discovering the truth.
The film is unsettling right from the start and there isn't a single moment that isn't uncomfortable. For non-horror fans that might sound horrible, but it's the stuff that fear is made of and that is largely what fans of the genre look for. Even before things start to really get going, I found myself on edge. Would the mother become angry and hostile in this scene? Would she become cruel and bitter and spew hatred because one twin did this or the other twin did something else? Constant tension soaks every frame and I was made to never feel safe. There is no moment where you can relax and breathe easily. Even the boys playing can possibly turn into something to become concerned with and it only grows and grows. It helps that the bandages that remain on the mother's face throughout most of the film are both realistic and horrific looking.
The film is largely visual and although there is a fair amount of dialogue, it feels minimal as it only presents itself when necessary. There is a somber tone throughout the entirety of the running time; even if the viewer isn't scared in a particular scene, there is always the feeling of desperation and sadness, the desire to see the twins reunited with the person they once knew and loved.
Lukas and Elias Schwartz could not have offered a more impressive job in their roles. Child actors have the capacity to be either the weakest or most admirable element. With Goodnight Mommy, the latter couldn't be more the case. The mixture of fear, sadness, defiance, and bravery comes through with such authenticity and honesty. Susanne Wuest also gives a respectable performance as the mother, always keeping the audience guessing about who she really is. The mystery of what's really going on is so intriguing and keeps the movie consistently entertaining.
I won't give away the ending but I will say that while it wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, I have no real complaints. It breathes new life into a concept I thought was long dead and while I found myself more bummed out than jumping up and down with excitement as I was during most of the third act, I can't deny that it was anything but obvious how it would all play out and left me wide-eyed and caught off guard. It's depressing as all hell but there's no way else for a movie with this tone and style to really go.
When all is said and done, I absolutely recommend this film to anyone who loves horror and wants to see a movie that knows exactly what it's doing, successfully pulling off equal parts disturbing, distressing, endearing, and engaging. There's no doubt in my mind that Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz made exactly the movie they intended to make, keeping a firm grasp on all the project's elements. It's far from a light, feel-good journey but that's not what horror is about, now is it?
P.J. Griffin, HMS
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