Mothers' Instinct

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.

Set in a middle class 60's setting which is beautifully done, 2 families who are dear friends both experience unforeseen trauma in their lives which leads to a catastrophic end.

I'm not a grand fan of Hathaway who plays Celine, but this pairing with Chastain who plays Alice is cinematic gold. The story follows the pair through trauma and heartbreak with an ultimate end of a perfect pairing.

The film at first is slow and kind of reminds you of the old slow starting films of the 60's. But it's done so nicely that it's not onerous to follow the story being set. Slowly but surely events unfold and you realise something is happening but you're not sure what.

Eventually 1 mystery is solved but it only opens up another mystery, and then another, and then another.

I'd not say it kept me on the edge of my seat, but it certainly held my attention with ease. I particularly loved the way it made me feel deep sympathy with both star characters, knowing that 1 or perhaps both of them was the 'bad guy'. Then again, perhaps neither of them were and they were being manipulated by someone else... Pitting them against one another was a great move and kept me guessing until the end.

The sets and wardrobe and even the traits of people were absolutely on point for the 60's, and I loved how there was no extraneous noise affecting the main script. No police interviews, no secondary characters poking their noses in, and no grand arguments with threats and shouting. It was all very muted and yet was foreboding in it's quiet, like a great Hitchcock movie, but obviously not near as good.

All in all a great story and a great film with great actors and I give it a solid 7.

"Mother's Instinct" is a psychological thriller that offers a compelling exploration of suburban paranoia, but ultimately falls short meriting a 6 out of 10 rating. Set in the 1960s, the film stars Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain as Alice and Celine, two neighbors whose idyllic lives unravel after a tragic accident.

The film's strength lies in its lead performances. Hathaway and Chastain deliver nuanced portrayals of complex characters, capturing the escalating tension with a sense of urgency that keeps viewers engaged. The production design and costume work are also noteworthy, effectively transporting the audience to the era with a meticulous attention to detail.

However, "Mother's Instinct" stumbles in its final act. The build-up of suspense and mystery, carefully crafted throughout the movie, culminates in an ending that feels both rushed and disappointing. . The resolution lacks the emotional payoff that the preceding narrative promises, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.

Despite its shortcomings, "Mother's Instinct" is a visually striking film with strong central performances. It's a worthwhile watch for fans of the genre, though it may not leave a lasting impression due to its underwhelming conclusion.

I like it. So many unfair bad reviews. It has a great premise and the movie makes you empathize with Alice (Jessica Chastain) and also with Celine (Anne Hathaway). I was wondering all the time who was right and who was wrong. Yes, it's true that the 3rd act is not as interesting as the rest of the movie, that it would have been better to keep it as a movie about trust, tragedy and the consequences of those in relationships.

But the ending takes another path, and is not wrong. It's actually interesting. Anne and Jessica both have amazing scenes together. My god! Those two can say so much with just one look.

It was a pleasant movie.

This movie seemed like a modern take on "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle". It's quite the thriller, though for a while you're never sure if it's meant to be a thriller or drama. It had an unusual pace, which isn't a bad thing, but definitely didn't feel like your typical American movie. Especially the ending.

It's not an easy movie to watch, but it's worth it. It's also a fairly unique story and there should be more movies centered around toxic female friendships. We've all had them, it's time to acknowledge them and make useful stories of them. This is a good start.

Jessica Chastain really came alive in this the most out of everyone and was the most believable, but the others were good too. I'm not sure if I would watch it again now that I know the story, but if it had better dialogue it would be enough to come back for seconds.