‘Goodnight Mommy’ is an Austrian psychological drama that is deliberately slow-paced, at first; but it does a really good job of setting up the storyline and character development. If you are paying attention, you should be able to pick up on several clues that foreshadow the ending.
Elias and Lukas (the Schwartz brothers) move to a new home with their mother after she has plastic surgery, but under her bandages is someone the children don’t recognize. The acting was stellar. This is a quiet movie with not a lot of talking so don’t be afraid of the subtitles.
‘Goodnight Mommy’ is built upon a mood of mystery and suspense and is one of those movies where it’s difficult to dive too deep without giving away spoilers. This is not a horror film in the standard sense. There are some gory scenes but the horror here lies in the psychological depth and haunting visuals. The music is underscore rather than at center stage. There are no jump tactics to scare you, but instead, the film serves as a poetic and haunting layer that amplifies human isolation.
In summary, this film is a visually stunning and thought-provoking exploration of the human mind which may lead you to feel unsettled. So if you’re a fan of atmospheric and psychologically driven thrillers, Goodnight Mommy is a must-see.