Hi all!
Today I am reviewing new-release, horror/thriller: Mother Mary. It hit cinemas this month, allowing me the opportunity of seeing it on the big screen. An iconic pop star (Anne Hathaway), seeks a comeback after an onstage accident. A strained reunion with her estranged former collaborator and fashion designer (Michaela Coel), forces them to confront their intense, fractured past. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Note: This post is in partnership with JustWatch.
WHAT WORKED:
Mother Mary has now joined the collection under the concert horror/thriller sub-genre alongside Smile 2 and Trap. It had some breathtaking, cinematic shots of Anne Hathaway performing on stage as the aforementioned pop star. Not to mention, her jaw-dropping costumes. Visually, this film is an artistic masterpiece. Even the original songs are ethereal. The director, David Lowery, admitted that he was inspired by Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour. The influences were definitely there. At times, it felt like I was watching a stage production. The sets would change around the two main characters in order to progress the narrative. I appreciated that creative choice. What I truly enjoyed about this A24 feature however, was the unique concept. A story like this has not been done before. I was intrigued to learn what had befallen the two women; exploring the undeniable connection between them. The pair absolutely stole the show with their acting. I actually wanted their relationship to go down a more romantic path, given their chemistry. Having said all that, it would appear I have a lot of positive things to say but unfortunately, the negatives outweigh…
WHAT DIDN’T WORK:
It’s such a shame the beating heart of Mother Mary did not live up to its potential. As mentioned above, the visuals and framework were there. What didn’t work was the execution. The movie is bogged down by metaphors and long, drawn-out dialogue. Make no mistake, this is a mumblecore film. 85% of the runtime takes place in Michaela Coel’s home; with the both of them mainly talking. I wanted much less telling and a lot more showing. What would’ve enhanced the plot was seeing the exact moment their friendship fell apart – instead of it just being told to us. I also would’ve loved more horror. There was some decent gore but the scares were non-existent. I kept expecting a sinister twist that never took off. Furthermore, there was a moment where the A24 of it all began to seep in and things got odd. I believe there is a difference between good weird and bad weird. I would classify this one by the latter. I understood what Lowery was going for but the sudden strange direction took me out of the tension building. The tonal shift never quite recovered my interest. By the end, I felt nothing but exhaustion.
OVERALL STAR RATING:
I gave it 3/5 stars. I would wait for streaming.
Have you seen Mother Mary? What did you think of it?
Peace & Love xoxo
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