Mothers’ Instinct
is a compelling thriller that elevates Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain to incredible heights. The film is a tense and terrifying story of love, loss, and deception that sees people pushed to their limits. This atmosphere pervades the entire film and helps to continuously emphasize that this movie is designed to be uncomfortable and challenging, but in the end, it is ultimately stunning in its delivery.

Based on the novel by Barbara Abel, Mothers’ Instinct is a drama-thriller by director Benoît Delhomme. Two housewives find their idyllic life shattered when one of their children is involved in a tragic accident, pitting the two women against each other as they begin to question the authenticity of their friendship over the years.

Runtime

94 Minutes

Director

Benoît Delhomme

Writers

Sarah Conradt

Studio(s)

Anton
, Freckle Films
, Mosaic
, Versus Production

Distributor(s)

Neon

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Hathaway and Chastain play two mothers — Alice and Céline — who live next door to one another. Both have young sons who have become best friends; the mothers share a similarly close relationship. However, when tragedy strikes and one of the boys dies in a terrible accident, the fallout has far-reaching effects.
Mothers’ Instinct Makes An Art Form Of The Thriller Genre

When it comes to thrillers, the one thing that ties movies in the category is the tension at the heart of their stories. In Mothers’ Instinct, tension becomes the story, transcending the role to become something larger. The plot alone is enough to create an environment that is constantly clouded by tragedy and dismay in the best way possible, making the relationship between Alice and Céline palpable in every scene.

In Mothers’ Instinct, tension becomes the story, transcending the role to become something larger.

The film benefits from the outstanding talent of two Oscar-winning actresses in the leading roles, and both Chastain and Hathaway bring their A-game. The use of negative space, things that are not shown onscreen, creates a vivid image of danger and mystery. Together with the performances and the suggestion of dangers lurking in the background, Mothers’ Instinct manages to create a masterful event with sound and images in a quiet suburb to create something utterly confronting.

The film’s ability to stir up emotion and playfully cross the lines repeatedly while leaving things vague enough to be compelling but not boring is incredible. There is a great deal of balance required to tell a story that is so weighed down by grief, suffering, and revenge, but despite the hurdles, it sustains all of this and more. Overall, the film is an outstanding piece of work that elevates every element in such a way as to make it unmissable.
Mothers’ Instinct Is Peak Cinema

In an era where most major motion pictures are attached to pre-existing IP, Mothers’ Instinct highlights the spectacle and potential of cinema. It takes a story that could have gone disastrously or may appear too similar to something that has been done before and carves out its space by doing it better than other thrillers. The movie combines strong elements to deliver a truly spectacular viewing experience.

Mothers’ Instinct highlights the spectacle and potential of cinema.

From career-defining performances from Chastain and Hathaway to the incredible story and pacing — which made every beat feel intentional and helped to keep the film’s momentum going — Mothers’ Instinct stands out. This is especially true considering the film was adapted from a novel, Behind the Hatred, which has a contemporary setting with several variations. The movie adaptation perfectly captures the essence of the tense novel while introducing important changes that benefit the big screen format and make the story all the more powerful.

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The Eggers brothers’ The Front Room is certainly off-putting and carried by a great Kathryn Hunter performance, but is far too predictable.

All of that said, director Benoît Delhomme has a bright future ahead in the industry considering this was his directorial debut. His vision and ability to coax stunning performances from the actors, while also creating the environment needed to bring the 1960s period drama to life, is remarkable. The film manages to convey such complex themes and intense conflict so well. Mothers’ Instinct delivers in every way when it comes to creating a thriller that keeps us on edge and will have you thinking back on the events long after the credits roll.
Mothers’ Instinct is available to stream now on Hulu.

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Pros

Both Anne Hathaway & Jessica Chastain are spectacular in their roles.
The movie keeps the tension throughout the film at the perfect levels.
Incredible storytelling throughout.