Uploaded October 2017 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This is a spoiler-free review of the 2017 film mother! (which director/writer Darren Aronofsky deliberately titled lowercase to contrast the capitalization of god in monotheistic religions). mother! received polarizing reception during its theatrical run, but for me the movie landed in the calescent end of lukewarm. I had some low-key affection for the film, and didn’t regret seeing it at the theater by the time the credits rolled... but I probably wouldn’t watch mother! a second time. mother! is so on-the-nose, though, and nonstop barrages you in the face with overt metaphor & symbolism, that one viewing is really all you need. Warning: If you dislike when the entire plot is allegorical in nature, this film is unlikely to be your cup o' tea!
This is a spoiler-free review of the 2017 film mother! (which director/writer Darren Aronofsky deliberately titled lowercase to contrast the capitalization of god in monotheistic religions). mother! received polarizing reception during its theatrical run, but for me the movie landed in the calescent end of lukewarm. I had some low-key affection for the film, and didn’t regret seeing it at the theater by the time the credits rolled... but I probably wouldn’t watch mother! a second time. mother! is so on-the-nose, though, and nonstop barrages you in the face with overt metaphor & symbolism, that one viewing is really all you need. Warning: If you dislike when the entire plot is allegorical in nature, this film is unlikely to be your cup o' tea!
