Problem Children
Rotten Tomatoes Plot: In the heat of the summer. A lonesome house in the countryside between woods and corn fields. Nine-year-old twin brothers (Elias and Lukas Schwarz) are waiting for their mother (Susanne Wuest.) When she comes home, bandaged after cosmetic surgery, nothing is like before. The children start to doubt that this woman is actually their mother. It emerges an existential struggle for identity and fundamental trust. Directed by Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz.
Boys will be boys, but the kids in Goodnight Mommy border on ridiculous. For starters, the trailer is misleading (don't worry, it's still very creepy) but who wants to watch someone's mother go through so much pain? Keep an eye out for signs of trouble: Here's a hint... drowning a cat, and burning cockroaches with a magnifying glass isn't good. Neither are Elias' dreams... some of which are pretty darn disturbing. That said, Fiala & Franz infuse plenty of misdirection, spookiness and suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. Unfortunately, it's way too ugly/wicked for me.
Grade: B-
