Mothers' Instinct

Mothers' Instinct is set in 1960 and aims to be a throwback to the glossy thrillers of that era. More specifically, it feels like a stab at aping Hitchcock, marrying tense psychodrama with grand visuals and crowd pleasing twists. Needles to say, it falls some way short of matching the Master of Suspense.

Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway play Alice and Celine. They are neighbours, friends and both parents of young boy who are also close. When Celine's son dies in a tragic accident, Alice becomes convinced her grieving friend blames her and is plotting revenge.

First time director Benoit Delhomme is an experienced cinematographer and it shows with the film's aesthetic being one of its greatest strengths. It's a small film, set mostly in and around a couple of houses but the period setting is beautifully observed and every shot is painstakingly composed. The pastel colours and stunning costumes are in stark contrast to the grim goings on and provide insight into the characters and their mood.

Mothers' Instinct's other big plus, or rather pluses, are its two leads. This isn't the first time Chastain and Hathaway have been in a film together but it is the first time they've shared the screen and they play off each other expertly. Whether they're being bosom buddies, suspicious frenemies or outright adversaries they are magnetic. Even when one of them is alone in a room they are telling the story with every facial movement. A strong supporting cast help them along the way but it's really the leading ladies show.

Unfortunately all the style and great acting is hung on a screenplay that just isn't up to the task. There are moments of tension but it never really feels like it's escalating, Mothers Instinct treads the shallows for most of its runtime before abruptly diving off the deep end for a conclusion. There's nothing wrong with keeping things subtle but an ending like the one we get here should be built towards, not feel like it could have come out of nowhere at any time. It also doesn't help that the strory goes in the most predictable direction open to it and in the process robs both main characters of any interesting nuance they had built up.

So Mothers' Instinct is ultimately a letdown, especially for the leads. Performances this good shouldn't be portraying a story this underbaked.

6 clandestine autopsies out of 10.

I think this film is brilliantly done. Anyone of a certain age remembers the way of life during the time period in which this is set and it's a thriller play on words, so to speak. The setting and style is spot on down to the smallest detail, to the point the thriller story itself is the secondary plot. I suspect certain generations may not quite get the significance. Chastain and Hathaway played their roles perfectly. I give this a high score because I do appreciate the nuances of life unfolding on screen and the sort of Hitchock'ish ... but not...chilling thriller innuendo that presents. I totally get it and I totally liked it.

The beginning started out promising and the acting is superb as what you can expect from A-listers such as Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway. Kinda remind me of Fractured in Netflix as the premise is kinda guessing whether it is the bad guy and the hallucinating side. Sadly, those talents and concept are wasted in what started out as an intriguing story then turns into something dull boring with laughable ending.

There are plot holes here and there alongside with the SUPER PREDICTABLE storyline which makes the thrill gone by the end of the first half. With its 95 mins run time they can actually stretch it a bit and make it into something out of ordinary instead of this rushed B movie kind of story. Don't waste your time in the cinema for this.

I am a guy and this movie is primarily about the relationship between two women, two mothers, each with a husband and an 8-yr-old son. So I didn't know if I would enjoy it but I like both actresses, Chastain and Hathaway, so I watched it out of trust that they would not participate in a poor movie. It is actually a remake of a 2018 French movie "Duelles", with the same character names and the same basic story.

Filmed in New Jersey, the story is set in the 1960s, in one scene they are talking about whether new president JFK was too young, and one of the ladies says Jackie will run things anyway. Jessica Chastain is Alice and Anne Hathaway is Céline. They live next door to each other in a middle class neighborhood and each has a key to the other home. Their sons are best friends.

Then a tragedy strikes and that changes all the friend and family dynamics. It quickly develops into a very dark story as the family losses pile up and it is hard to say which are the stable ones. The ending was a total surprise to me, and is a very dark conclusion.

While it turns out to be a not very pleasant movie I enjoyed the viewing experience. My wife skipped, somehow she thought she had already watched the movie. Did she really?

At home, on DVD from my public library.

Mother's instinct, starring Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain, is a film set in the 60's about two mothers who are neighbours and great friends. Their children are best friends too. All seems well when a tragic incident happens.

This sets the tone for the film however what follows is a thriller that's pretty forgettable.

It is well acted, especially by the two leads which helps emphasize the emotions both of them go through throughout the film, but that's really it. It just seems so generic with nothing really to shock you.

The overall quality of this film reminds of films that should be on streaming services.

Overall, you aren't missing much.