Mother!

| 2017

Directed by: Darren Aronofsky

Main Plot

"Mother!" is a psychological horror film that delves into themes of creation, destruction, and the cyclical nature of human existence. The story unfolds in a secluded house where a couple's tranquil life is disrupted by the arrival of unexpected guests. As more strangers invade their home, the atmosphere becomes increasingly chaotic and tense. The house, a living entity, mirrors the escalating turmoil and emotional strain experienced by its inhabitants. The narrative explores the tension between nurturing and exploitation, as the protagonist struggles to maintain harmony and order amidst growing disorder. The film employs allegorical elements, drawing parallels to biblical stories and environmental degradation. The relentless intrusion of outsiders symbolizes humanity's insatiable greed and disregard for the sanctity of home and nature. As the plot progresses, the boundaries between reality and nightmare blur, culminating in a series of surreal and harrowing events. The film's intense and often disturbing imagery serves to underscore its central themes, leaving viewers to ponder the destructive consequences of human actions and the relentless cycle of creation and annihilation.

Characters

  • Jennifer Lawrence plays "Mother," a woman whose tranquil life with her husband is disrupted by unexpected guests, leading to chaos and a profound allegorical journey.
  • Javier Bardem plays Him, a poet struggling with writer's block. His actions drive the chaotic events, symbolizing creation and destruction.
  • Ed Harris plays a character known as "Man," who arrives unexpectedly at the couple's home, setting off a series of increasingly chaotic and disturbing events.

Ending Explained

In the final act of the film, the protagonist, referred to as Mother, experiences a series of increasingly chaotic and violent events within her home. The house, which she has painstakingly restored, becomes overrun by a growing number of strangers who are drawn to her poet husband, Him, and his work. The situation spirals out of control as the guests' behavior becomes more erratic and destructive, culminating in a frenzied, cult-like worship of Him. Mother, who is pregnant, goes into labor amidst the chaos and gives birth to a son. Him takes the baby and presents him to the crowd, who ultimately kill and consume the child in a horrifying act of cannibalistic frenzy. Devastated and enraged, Mother confronts Him and the followers, leading to a violent confrontation. In her despair, she sets the house on fire, destroying everything. In the aftermath, Him carries Mother's charred body to a secluded room, where he extracts a crystal from her heart. The house miraculously restores itself, and a new woman awakens in the same bed where Mother once lay, suggesting a cyclical pattern of creation, destruction, and rebirth. This ending underscores themes of sacrifice, the destructive nature of adoration, and the perpetual cycle of life and creation.

Darren Aronofsky Drama Horror Mystery Jennifer Lawrence Javier Bardem Ed Harris