Goodnight Mommy Plot Synopsis
Goodnight Mommy is a captivating remake of an Austrian film with the same title. The story revolves around twin brothers, Elias and Lukas, who pay a visit to their renowned mother at her countryside residence. However, their arrival unravels a startling revelation about their mother. Not only is she donning a medical mask, but her behavior vastly differs from what they remember. Gone are her warm and nurturing tendencies, replaced by an icy demeanor and occasional aggression towards the boys.
Why is the ‘mother’ wearing a mask?
Upon reaching their mother’s home, the twins are taken aback by the sight of her wearing a medical mask. Initially surprised, she explains that she recently underwent cosmetic surgery and is wearing the mask during the healing process. Given their mother’s fame as an actress, it’s not unusual for her to aspire to preserve her beauty. However, subtle clues begin to suggest that the woman behind the mask may not be their real mother. It raises the question of whether cosmetic surgery serves as a convenient disguise for the possible imposter’s true identity.
Why do the boys suspect their mother is an imposter?
Shortly after their arrival, their mother imposes a set of rules on the boys. She forbids them from entering the barn, making noise, or accessing her bedroom and office. These restrictions, unlike their mother’s usual behavior, arouse suspicion in Elias and Lukas. Their doubts intensify when she refuses to sing them their cherished bedtime lullaby. Claiming they have outgrown it, the boys believe she is an imposter unable to recall the lullaby’s lyrics. Furthermore, the woman callously discards a family picture gifted by Elias—a clear departure from their mother, who used to cherish such mementos. The change in her eye color also stirs unease in Elias, as it no longer matches his memory. When the boys break the woman’s rules and venture into the barn, they stumble upon a bloodstained wall. Startled, the imposter confronts them aggressively, further deviating from their real mother’s nature.
The boys flee and seek shelter in a neighbor’s barn. However, the police are called, and they are returned to their mother’s home. To the boys’ astonishment, when the police encounter the woman without her mask, she appears identical to their mother. Elias, confined to his room, secretly overhears her conversation with the police. He catches her saying, “He was playing by the pool and must have slipped on some water. It’s terrifying, that line between reality and fantasy—it’s vanished.” The true meaning behind her words is later revealed.
Is the woman truly their mother?
Despite the claims made by the woman, the boys remain unconvinced and suspect her to be an impersonator who underwent facial reconstruction to resemble their mother. While she sleeps, they immobilize her by duct-taping her to the bed. When she awakens, Elias confronts her, dousing her with cold water, demanding to know the whereabouts of their real mother. She insists that she is their mother and attributes the change in her eye color to the use of colored contact lenses. Their conversation is abruptly interrupted by the police, who visit to ensure their well-being. When asked about their mother’s whereabouts, Elias claims she is out somewhere. Although one of the police officers finds the boys’ story dubious, they ultimately leave them at home to attend another call.
Elias and Lukas seize this opportunity to flee. However, just as they are about to leave, Elias realizes he forgot his toothbrush and returns to the house. In a serendipitous turn of events, he discovers his mother’s collection of colored contact lenses. This revelation shatters his doubt, and he releases his mother from her restraints. Nevertheless, a new mystery awaits resolution. Elias’ mother leads him to the barn, prompting him to confront an unsettling truth.
What does Elias find in the barn?
In the barn, Elias’ mother directs his attention to the blood-stained wall, where a bullet hole captures his gaze. Through her account, we learn that when Elias and Lukas were younger, they played with a loaded gun—an innocent act that tragically resulted in Elias accidentally shooting and killing Lukas. When his mother endeavors to make Elias face this harsh reality, overwhelmed with guilt, he responds with anger. She falls from the barn attic, landing on the ground, inadvertently breaking a lantern which sparks a fire engulfing the hay.
In his distress, Elias flees the barn, leaving his mother trapped inside as the flames consume the building. Amidst the chaos, Elias gazes upward, witnessing a miraculous sight—both his mother and Lukas approaching him. They embrace, and his mother reassures him that he bears no blame for the tragic events.
Are Elias’ mother and brother truly alive?
No, it becomes evident that Elias is grappling with a blurred line between reality and fantasy, echoing his mother’s earlier conversation with the police. The apparitions of his mother and brother in the final scenes represent hallucinations. This realization implies that Lukas, who appeared throughout the movie, was always a figment of Elias’ imagination. Upon rewatching the film, astute viewers may observe that the mother solely interacts with Elias, but not with Lukas, hinting at Lukas’ nonexistence. Lukas occasionally manifests as Elias’ reflection, rather than a living, breathing individual.
Elias’ delusion is a manifestation of the grief and guilt he experienced following his brother’s death. In an attempt to cope with the trauma and profound loneliness, he constructs a world where his beloved brother remains present. His mother’s distant behavior in the movie likewise stems from her own grief—she withdraws from her son, possibly resenting Elias for the accidental demise of his brother. This resentment may explain why she discards the drawing Elias made for her, symbolizing the shattered unity of their family.
Overall, “Goodnight Mommy” transcends the confines of a conventional horror film, diving into a poignant exploration of grief’s impact on the human psyche. While the original 2014 Austrian movie shares similar themes, it is worth noting that it delves into much darker and more violent territory than this latest adaptation.