Have you ever had one of those dreams, where everything’s pulling away from your grasp and spinning out of control? Even though you’re dreaming, you know that’s the case and if you could just exert some control you could bring everything back into focus. But as the nightmare continues to grow, the feelings of tension and anxiety blossom with it. That’s Mother! in a nutshell.

The two central protagonists appear to be living an idyllic life in a huge country house but it doesn’t take long for the cracks – or the bloody reservoirs within them – to show, in both their relationship and the property they’re restoring. Him (Javier Bardem) is a brooding author with writer’s block, while Mother (Jennifer Lawrence) is the younger woman trying to kick start his passion once more.

Mother appears to have psychological issues from the off, regularly self-medicating with a golden substance, while Him is somehow childlike and condescending at the same time, all hurt feelings on his side and ignored feelings on hers. Together it’s a powerful combination and lays the foundations for the idea that what is really happening may not indeed be happening at all.

What marks Mother! Out from all those other films tapping a similar vein is the sheer ferocity and brutality of its actions. Writer/director Darren Aronofsky hasn’t just tapped the anxiety of that fever dream, he’s ramped it up to such uncomfortably levels you’ll be squirming in your seat.

But it’s possible, given the subtext of the film, that there’s a third psyche at play here. Rather than a love letter to the creative process, has Aronofsky actually written an apology note to those who have suffered at his hands? Is he the tortured artist squeezing everything from those around him, his creative genius more worthwhile than their comfort of mind? If he is, the upside to that mania is some of the most interesting and difficult work ever committed to celluloid – including this film. Reviewed by Matt Chapman

INFO
Release: 15 September 2017
From: Paramount
Format: Theatrical Release
Age Rating: 18