In a rural setting, nine-year-old twin brothers Elias (Elias Schwarz) and Lukas (Lukas Schwarz) are left to entertain and care for themselves while they wait for their mother (Susanne Wuest) to return from surgery. When their mother returns, she is relatively weak and tired. Her face is covered in bandages, and only her eyes and mouth are still visible.
The mother has set out several rules for Elias and Lukas to follow while she focuses on recovering, including not disturbing her in her room unless it’s an emergency. Throughout her recovery, she will have minimal interactions with her children, and they must find ways to care for and entertain themselves. However, as the boys spend more time with their mother, they notice that she seems forgetful and uncertain about essential details, leading them to suspect that she might not be who she claims to be. Elias and Lukas decide to uncover the truth and protect themselves from this possible stranger who has entered their once peaceful home.
Goodnight Mommy is a horror and thriller film with a significant mystery element. It was directed and written by Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz, who later directed other horror and thriller titles such as The Lodge (2019) and The Devil’s Bath (2024). The film begins with a compelling storyline in which we learn that Elias and Lukas are not only twins but also share a strong bond and friendship. Throughout the film, it’s noticeably strange and mysterious that both twin brothers have been left to fend for themselves with no one to care for them. When their mother returns home covered in bandages, various strange and unexplainable moments occur, leading to a strong reveal in the film’s climax.
I found the character of Mutter, or Mother, who is covered in bandages to be a nice horror element. There are several creepy scenes in which she interacts with Elias and Lukas. Performance-wise, I felt everyone was great, including the young actors. The film’s setting, which included the home and the countryside scenery, was well-suited and pleasant. However, the film hinges on a significant twist, which I found apparent early on. The big reveal didn’t carry the surprising impact I had hoped for, which was disappointing.
Overall, Goodnight Mommy is a simple yet highly effective horror film with a solid mystery presented right from the opening and first act. Seeing a mother covered in bandages and acting strange had plenty of creepiness and unexpected moments. Both the leading performances and core location are fantastic. Gruesome and violent moments were truly uncomfortable and highly effective. Sadly, the film’s biggest reveal was extremely obvious to me on the first watch, and the impact of this was far smaller than I had hoped for. Nevertheless, it’s a pleasing horror and thriller that is recommended if you’ve never experienced it.
Goodnight Mommy (2014) is Available on Blu-ray
7.3/10
19th October 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
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