Film Preview: mother! (2017)

Page Revisions:

(August 6, 2017) Original
(August 13, 2017) New Trailer (#2) / New Posters (#3-#4)
(September 10, 2017) New Posters (#5-#6)

Release Date:

September 15, 2017

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “A couple’s relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence.”

Poster Rating: B+ / B / B+ / B / B- / B-

SEE ALL POSTERS BELOW
Review: (#1 & #2) Although these are essentially character posters, the first one, featuring Jennifer Lawrence, is a far more visually daring and intriguing one than the second featuring Javier Bardem. That is largely thanks to the symbolism of a mother cutting out her own heart for others, something self-effacing that many mothers would do for their children.

(#3) A fragile exterior slowly chipping lose. It’s a compelling metaphor. (#4) A simple, torn design that doesn’t add anything measurably interesting.

(#4) If the trailer didn’t have enough of an uncanny resemblance to Rosemary’s Baby, now the fourth poster design rips off that film’s poster design almost explicitly. That design was differently colored and featuerd a baby carriage rather than a house, but the resemblance is uncanny and somewhat appropriate. (#5) Whether it’s supposed to just be creative or is supposed to look a little like an owl remains unimportant. The design features bland colors and simple Rorschachian balance.

Trailer Rating: C / A-

SEE ALL TRAILERS BELOW
Review: (#1) We are promised a trailer on the eighth of August, but it promises to be far more bizarre than the visuals presented here, which seem rather bland by comparison. Of course, it could very much be a surreal exploration of real life, which could be interesting, but the trailer just doesn’t give us sufficient information to believe that it’s more than a woman hearing things.

(#2) This is how you sell a horror film. Setting things up for maximum creepiness. There are elements of numerous previous horror films, including a chilling similarity to Rosemary’s Baby.

Oscar Prospects:

Darren Aronofsky has done some great work in the past and his name always conjures up Oscar consideration. While they cite Black Swan in the trailer, the film might be more akin to The Fountain or Noah rather than Swan or The Wrestler in terms of its Oscar capability. Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem could be considered, but the concept seems a bit too strange for Oscar voters.