Similar to David Fincher and other astute directors operating in the wheelhouse of psychological thrillers, Darren Aronofsky is a filmmaker that tends to get under his audience’s skin.
And that’s by no means a slight against the Black Swan helmer; rather, his films are often imbued with such haunting imagery and unforgettable, downright trippy stories that they have an innate ability to leave a lasting impression on their audience. Aronofsky’s latest effort, mother!, is poised to continue that streak in some style.
Anchored by Jennifer Lawrence (Grace) and Javier Bardem (Eli), mother! tells the story of a lovestruck couple who find their home and, by effect, their relationship under threat from a pair of uninvited (?) guests: Michelle Pfeiffer and Westworld‘s Ed Harris. This unsettling dilemma is teed up rather beautifully in the film’s latest and indeed extended TV spot, in which Lawrence’s curious lead wanders freely around her picture-perfect home as the non-diegetic sound of harsh, whispering voices escalates to the point where the word “murderer!” echoes off the drab white walls. Creepy indeed.
For a director who excels in dark, deeply unsettling material, Darren Aronofsky ought to feel right at home with mother!, while we understand plans are in place for a big Oscar push on the festival circuit (see: Venice and next month’s TIFF). After all, Black Swan scooped up five nominations back in 2010 – most notably for Best Picture and Best Director, while Natalie Portman deservedly claimed that iconic golden statuette for her performance as Nina – and given how Aronofsky believes the two films are similar “in spirit,” we’re intrigued to discover how mother! fares when it premieres at Venice.
Also starring Harris, Pfeiffer, Domhnall Gleeson, Brian Gleeson, and Kristen Wiig, Darren Aronofsky’s long-brewing psychological thriller will hit theaters on September 15th.
