NEW DIRECTORS/NEW FILMS // A FILM REVIEW OF "GOODNIGHT MOMMY"

By Chrisena Ricci

The Museum of Modern Art and the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s 44th edition of New Directors/New Films is being presented in New York City from March 18 – March 29. For 44 years New Directors/New Films has been an annual rite of early spring in New York City, bringing exciting discoveries from around the world to adventurous moviegoers. All aspects of cinema, from production to exhibition, have changed dramatically over the years, but the spirit of innovation and the element of surprise that have always defined this festival remain intact. Dedicated to the discovery of new works by emerging and dynamic filmmaking talent, this year’s festival will screen 26 international feature films and 16 short films.

We here at TheArtsWire Weekly are bringing you our take on the films we're screening during the festival.

First and foremost, let me begin by saying, I do not like horror movies. I do not enjoy the gore, the unbelievable plot lines and most of all the terror that it instills in my soul. When I sat in the theatre on this happy Thursday, I could feel my palms start to sweat. The film starts with some terrifyingly simple footage of a cookie cutter family singing a melodic and chilling German lullaby.

As it turns out, I do not like lullabies very much either.

It only gets creepier from there. This film has all of my fears in it. Creepy twins who have mastered the vacant stare, a corn field, face bandages, weird torture, and a box of roaches. That’s right, I said a box of roaches. The roaches are actually a common theme that runs through the entire film, which does not hesitate to dive deeply into your darkest fears surrounding those creepy-crawlies.

As you can see, Chrisena in her notes definitely noticed the BOX OF ROACHES quite vividly.Basically, the film tells the story of twin boys, Elias and Lukas, and their mother. When mom comes back from plastic surgery, the boys become convinced that she is not their mother, but an imposter sent back in her place. The boys’ imaginings escalate to a final cataclysmic point, where they tie up their mother and an onslaught of torture occurs.

The thing that is truly terrifying about this film is the true simplicity of each nail biting moment. The torture implements are simple home objects. The boys use super glue to permanently close one eye, and to seal mom’s lips. They use a magnifying glass to burn flesh, and a toy bow and arrow loaded with nails to keep mom in line.

It’s really messed up. And it’s really good.

This film does a great job of balancing humor with terror, and gore with child-like light-hearted playtime. I do wish that some things had been different. It seems as though the filmmakers thought that the audience wouldn’t understand the “big plot twist” without a lot of help. The dialogue early on however, gives away the entire would-be-twist. We are smart enough to figure it out. Plus, audiences enjoy getting to work out the mystery themselves. If two lines of dialogue were cut out, it really would have turned the film from ‘interesting concept’, to ‘chilling execution’. I also felt as though there were beautiful opportunities that were completely bypassed. For example, early on in the film, the boys discover a burial mound, where they also find a stray cat. I kept expecting the burial mound to make another appearance since the cat is an integral part of the plot. I thought the final show down between mom and children would happen there, instead of the home. 

All in all, I totally bought the story. I thought it was simplistic, without being completely predictable. The gore existed but wasn’t over the top. The fear elements were perfectly chosen to create a true “edge of your seat experience”, and one that you won’t stop talking about anytime soon.

VERDICT: MUST SEE

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY Severin Fiala & Veronika Franz STARRING Susanne Wuest, Elias Schwarz, Lukas Schwarz

Playing as part of The Museum of Modern Art and the Film Society of Lincoln Center's 44th New Directors/New Films Fest. For tickets: http://newdirectors.org/

FINAL THOUGHTS: If the twins from THE SHINING were placed into the movie MISERY and set in Germany, you would get this film. Also: BOX OF ROACHES

CHRISENA RICCI once went to a costume party dressed in an all black dress and black wig. No one there could guess who she was. So she shouted out, "I'm Christina Ricci, without the T or I and add an E!" Everyone stood there confused, she was annoyed, so she stormed off. She never returned to that apartment ever again. Which is fine, because she later realized she was at the wrong party. She now lives in New York City.