I am a huge fan of quality European cinema as it is always miles ahead of the easily digestible Hollywood crap we are being fed but I never expected an Austrian production to deliver on so many levels. I consider this to be wrongly labelled as horror when it is actually pure form of cinematic art from start to finish that just can't be attributed to a single genre. The direction and manner in which all scenes are shot is simply mind-blowing and the acting facilitates the conveying of the message completely. Those long and very intense shots of the two boys practically deprived of emotion faces are absolute highlight of the entire experience and while in the beginning I was not sure the boys were actually acting or simply had no idea what they were doing, near the end when some more dialogue is present, they do show the brilliance of having fulfilled the part to perfection. As for the plot and the twist, I just love when trailers do not give away anything of the actual story but still manage to attract viewers. I was certain this could go in the good/evil, devil/God line based on the trailer, but it was totally different experience with emphasis on purely earthly emotions, the effect of loss on children/parents and the psychology of family coherence or lack of such. I will throw in an advice to those who have not seen it but plan to do so - do not try to think too much as you might actually spot the potential twist in the very first few minutes. If the direction and scene composition manage to distract you enough, you will be shocked at the end!
Review of Goodnight Mommy
