Tomatometer Percentage: 82% Goodnight Mommy is an Austrian reimagining of modern K-horror classic A Tale of Two Sisters, and successfully transplants a decidedly European sense of terror onto the template. The plot revolves around the divorced mother of two young boys, who returns home after undergoing a presumably-cosmetic operation, her face wrapped in bandages. The fear comes when the boys begin to doubt that the woman beneath their bandages is actually their mother. Fantastically creepy set-pieces ensue, which ultimately lead to an ambiguous ending that intrigues rather than annoys (and it's always nice when that happens). As might be expected in a film of this nature, there is a third act twist which again works in the film's favour rather than to its detriment, as it so easily could have done; the mystery pervading the film adds to the reveal in such a way so as to enrich the text and inspire repeat viewings. In addition to the foreboding ambivalence that surrounds the film's tone and script, its wonderfully anchored by a chilling performance by Susanne Wuest as the boys' mother (OR IS SHE), and two authentic turns from real-life twins Lukas and Elias Schwartz in the lead roles. Co-writers/directors Severin Fiala and Veronika Fasan make a wise decision as to the boys' characterisation, in that they arguably seem to have their own measure of sociopathic tendencies; it helps that the Schwartz twins help sell that facet of their characters so assuredly. All in all, Goodnight Mommy makes for a wonderfully macabre commentary on guilt, responsibility, family, brotherhood and the way in which parents are viewed through their children's undeveloped minds, and is definitely one that stays with you long after the credits have rolled.
Cinephile since 1993, aged 4, when he saw his very first film in the cinema - Jurassic Park - which is also evidence of damn fine parenting. World champion at Six Degrees of Separation. Lender of DVDs to cheap mates. Connoisseur of Marvel Comics and its Cinematic Universe.
