Goodnight Mommy (2014)

Twin boys move to a new home with their mother after she has face changing cosmetic surgery, but under her bandages is someone the children don't recognize.

Directors:

Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz

Writers:

Veronika Franz (screenplay), Severin Fiala (screenplay)

Stars:

Lukas Schwarz, Elias Schwarz, Susanne Wuest

21 wins & 36 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lukas Schwarz	...	Lukas
Elias Schwarz	...	Elias
Susanne Wuest	...	Mutter
Hans Escher	...	Priester
Elfriede Schatz	...	Rotkreuz Sammlerin
Karl Purker	...	Rotkreuz Sammler
Georg Deliovsky	...	Pizzalieferant
Christian Steindl	...	Mesner
Christian Schatz	...	Bauer
Erwin Schmalzbauer	...	Akkordeongott

Storyline

In the heat of the summer, a lonesome house in the countryside between woods and corn fields, lives nine-year-old twin brothers who are waiting for their mother. When she comes home, bandaged after cosmetic surgery, nothing is like before. The children start to doubt that this woman is actually their mother. It emerges an existential struggle for identity and fundamental trust.

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Plot Keywords:

cosmetic surgery | torture | mother son conflict | 11 year old | domineering mother | 

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Taglines:

A mother should look out for her sons.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing violent content and some nudity

Details

Country:

Austria

Language:

German

Release Date:

11 September 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Goodnight Mommy

Filming Locations:

Schloßgasse 2 3824, Raabs an der Thaya, Austria

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$57,252, 13 September 2015, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,168,902, 15 November 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ulrich Seidl Film Produktion GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The actors were not given the script, and the movie was filmed chronologically.

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Goofs

[All goofs for this title are spoilers.]

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Quotes

Lukas: What am I doing?
Elias: What's Lukas doing?
Mutter: But I can't see him.

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Crazy Credits

The Stunt Roaches (Stuntschaben) = Matilda and Nermal (Mathilder und Nermal)

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Connections

Referenced in Midnight Screenings: Goodnight Mommy (2015)

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Soundtracks

Guten Abend, gute Nacht
Written by Johannes Brahms
Performed by Lukas Schwarz
Arranged by Alexander Schwarz

User Reviews

Good Build Up To An Underwhelming Finale

I love movies that try to be original and do something new, that's why Goodnight Mommy caught my interest right off the bat. It sets a very nice tone and had me excited to see a dark/stunning story unfold. Unfortunately this movie was mostly build up with a very mediocre third act.

It's obvious that this movie was going for an artsy feel but it's like they completely bailed on that about 70% through and that really ruined the whole film imo. Plus through the whole film I kept thinking "Man I really hope they aren't going to try and do that, because if they do this will just turn into a clichéd mess" and they absolutely do what I didn't want them to.

Goodnight Mommy is a decent effort, and I'm sure it will be praised by many people who are desperate for a good horror movie, but I find it hard to give in to the hype because this really just wasn't that great of a movie.

5/10