Goodnight Mommy (2022) User Reviews

Goodnight Mommy Lite...

[Xstal · 5/10 · 17 September 2022]

What would you do, if your mother felt like new, didn't act the way she should, behaved like mother never would, like a stranger in the house, makes you feel like a small mouse, quite aggressive and quite cold, not like the one you knew of old.

Elias and Lucas struggle to come to terms with their mother when she re-joins them after a period of hospitalisation. Taking matters into their own hands they explore a variety of ways to unmask their doppelganger and expose the truth.

A remake of a far more powerful Austrian film that avoids super glue, cockroaches and cats, to settle for a more palatable finale that ultimately quenches the dynamic and leaves it somewhat neutered, albeit well performed and passable.

A disappointing remake.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 5/10 · 13 November 2022]

Elias and Lucas arrive at their mother's house, to find her wearing a mask, and feeling very much like a stranger.

Once again, we get another remake, another remake that pales in comparison compared to its source material. The Austrian film is Chilling and unnerving, this was quite a pale remake.

No issues at all with the acting, competently performed, with a strong performance from the excellent Naomi Watts, and very good acting from the boys also.

They could have upped the horror vibe a few degrees, it just doesn't grip the viewer, for a so called horror, it's all too flat, and by the time something happens, the film is almost over.

Some good special effects, the nightmare sequences looked really good, but such horror moments were too few and far between.

Just watch the original, it's far superior.

5/10.

Good remake, Original still better.

[Horror_Flick_Fanatic · 7/10 · 16 September 2022]

Goodnight Mommy is an American remake of Austrian horror film from 2014 that goes by the same name (Goodnight Mommy (2014) original title "Ich seh, Ich seh"

I usually don't like American remakes and much prefer the original source in most movies. But this one isn't bad. I think it was well casted. Naomi Watts plays the mom and the Crovetti brothers play Elias and Lucas.

The acting performances were very good. Naomi Watts is a phenomenal actress in everything she does. The Crovetti brothers did extremely well.

But I still feel the original film is the best of the two. In this American version, several scenes are missing from the original film. I think they might have done that to keep the runtime shorter. But unfortunately, this remake doesn't have the same bite and unnerving tension of the original. The original film really made you feel uneasy. This one seems to lack uneasiness, uncomfortable dread of what would happen.

Unfortunately, if you watched this one first, then you will know the plot twist and you might not experience the same enjoyment I did when I first watched the original years ago. But if you haven't seen neither of them, then watch the original first. The original is a proper horror tale.

Pleasantly Surprised.

[destiny_west · 7/10 · 21 September 2022]

I was very hesitant about this film, being a fan of the original and having a general dislike for when American's remake international films.

I had put off watching it, but thought okay let's give it a go, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Naomi Watts as the Mother is absolutely amazing in this film.

The Crovetti brother's are great young actors and definitely held their own against Watts.

If you have not seen the original and are not aware of the plot/outcome. Then I would definitely give this version a watch.

It had great atmosphere, acting and it was very well shot. It was definitely worth the watch and I did not feel like I had wasted 90 minutes of my life, which seems to be happening more with horror films lately.

From an American

[ruthdean-47049 · 2/10 · 29 September 2022]

Why.. WHY must Hollywood absolutely obliterate foreign films? Do we have to take over everything? There was nothing wrong with the original from 2014. Creepy right off the bat, the Mother in the original barely had any lines and that alone put you on edge wondering why she was so mysterious. In this remake- Mother is watching movies, actively on the phone, feeling herself/dancing in front of mirrors- just STOP. Naomi Watts must have been hard up for some cash because what the hell.

0 creepiness. Just some bi**h mother being conceited. Was the original a total work of art? No, but compared to this dumpster fire it is.

It's also painfully obvious what the twist is gonna be from the beginning. At least, YES I WILL KEEP COMPARING IT, in the original you had no idea what was gonna happen or where the film was going. It just sucks- it wasn't even NEEDED. Damnit Hollywood, just leave well enough alone! I only gave it 2 stars in hopes people would see this and see it was a remake, thus gaining more attention for the original.

Wow. That Was A Creepfest.

[UltraMaximal · 6/10 · 16 September 2022]

Wowzer¡ I just watched this tonight. It's not a horror film but definitely a big ole thriller. I didn't know what to expect from one scene to the next as it was pretty intense 10 minutes into it.

All the acting is great. Even the children actors were good, which isn't usually the case. I found the adults acting to be on spot and stable through out. I especially liked how the police weren't portrayed as total jackomoes too. It was a pleasant surprise.

Then there is the ending. What the hell¡ The last 10 minutes totally caught me off guard as things were revealed and played out. A very nice job for this type of movie. I'd say watch it!

A very pleasant surprise! *no spoilers*

[imissbeingakid · 9/10 · 16 September 2022]

Toggling through the list of movies on Amazon Prime I discovered this film tonight. At the time of this review, the film was released to very little fanfare. The fact that Naomi Watts is listed in the list of credits peaked my curiosity as I had not seen her in any recent movies. Considering that the film only has 6 actors/actrices, I was not expecting too much. But the story was fantastic, containing plenty of twists and turns that will leave you guessing right up to the end. The director gives you plenty of hints of the path ahead and he leave it to the viewer to figure out what is exactly happening on screen. I was very pleasantly surprised to see the young actors, Nicholas and Cameron Crovetti, give such a believable performance! Seeing these young actors perform so well on screen makes me wonder what roles they will be offered in the future. It was great to see Naomi Watts be able to switch personalities, oscillating between the role of an evil, distanced mother to one who tenderly caresses her offspring. Her performance was quite good. I like how the director deliberately added a bit of pseudo horror elements to make the viewer guess what kind of genre of film he/she was really watching. I really hope other viewers will enjoy this film as well. I definitely did!

American Remake Pulls Back on the Tension

[Zeus-pro · 6/10 · 16 September 2022]

It's not a shot-by-shot remake. Some visuals from the original (Austrian Version) remain, but they don't pack the same punch. While the twist in the remake did differ slightly from the original, it wasn't enough for Goodnight Mommy (2022) to stand more solidly on its own. The terror that's revealed in the Austrian version of the film is extremely exaggerated, but it gives the audience an idea of how obsessive familial ties can be and how dangerous ideas can take hold to shocking conclusions. Goodnight Mommy (2022)'s finale does not deliver that same shock.

Yes, the horror may be reduced. You can even nitpick at the twist that may be far from the original. Yet, Goodnight Mommy's surprisingly suspenseful journey and understated twist on the genre outweigh its faults. It's not especially memorable, but it's not bad either.

Dumbed down American version

[offshade · 4/10 · 16 September 2022]

A shockingly dumbed down version for American audiences of an outstanding Austrian thriller, that lacks the impact, the brutality, the shock factor and the intelligence of its original. Instead you get the cinematic clichés, the sentimental overtones, the cheap musical dress-up and the spoon fed explanatory breakdown of a Hollywood style second class thriller. Watts is getting dangerously close to being typecast as the go-to actress for remakes, which can't be good for her legacy. The performances are fine overall nevertheless, are not sufficient however to even soften the crush that is the comparison between the two films. If you haven't seen any of them, do yourself a favour and watch the original without getting spoiled by this mediocre attempt of a crowd-pleaser.

'She's our mother, she has to love us, it's her job.'

[TxMike · 19 September 2022]

This is a very strange "Amazon Original" movie. I was anxious to see it because of Naomi Watts, I like her and she usually picks excellent projects. But my wife watched the trailer and decided she would skip.

Two boys, twins, are played by real-life identical twins, I figure they were about 10 or 11. Cute kids but pretty mediocre actors. Their father is bringing them back to mommy after a visit but she does not greet them on arrival. The boys go inside, the home is rural with a barn and fields, and eventually they find her with a full-face bandage-mask that closes in the back with Velcro. They are puzzled, they had no advance knowledge of this. And very soon, only about 17 minutes in, they see and hear things that make them suspect the woman isn't really their mother. And that is essentially what the movie is about, the boys trying to solve this riddle.

The last 20 minutes or so, and the ending, reveal a number of things, but not everything makes sense, when you think what was shown in the first half of the movie. When it ended I believe I figured out what was going on, a twist that seems to negate most of what was presented, but it is done in a way that isn't very clear.

So I can't rate this movie very high, the script and acting are just so-so, I watched the whole thing because I was curious to see where it was heading but when it was over I found it to be mostly unsatisfying. My wife made a good decision to skip.

At home, on Amazon Streaming movies.

Pointless remake of the 2014 Austrian original

[paul-allaer · 5/10 · 24 September 2022]

As "Goodnight Mommy" (2022 release; 92 min) opens, Elias and Lukas are dropped of at their mom's place, as dad hurries away after the drop-off. Much to their surprise, mom's face is in bandages, resulting from "a little procedure", per mom. Soon things feel very off. IS this really their mom? At this point we are 10 min into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the second feature length from director Matt Sobel ("Take Me To the River"). Here he remakes the 2014 Austrian movie "Goodnight Mommy", and what we get is literally a remake, transposed to the US, nothing more, nothing less. If you've seen the Austrian original, as I did, you will almost certainly and inevitably ask yourself, like I did: "why???". There is simply no point to any of this. Some may say that it is a "faithful" remake. I call it a "pointless" and utterly unnecessary remake. The only reason that I watched it was that Naomi Watts stars as the "Mommy", not that you would know for much of the film (as of course her face is in bandages). If you have not seen the Austrian original, and are debating which version to see, by all means I strongly encourage you to check out the Austrian original, which is creepy in the best possible way. Whereas the Hollywood remake is not creepy, not scary, not fun. Not good, not bad. It just is.

"Goodnight Mommy" premiered about a week ago on Amazon Prime. Curiosity got the better of me and I finally gave in and watched it. I really shouldn't have. Of course don't take my word for it, and so whether you've seen the Austrian original or not, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

Not unsuccessful but not as effective as original

[violinjoe · 6/10 · 19 September 2022]

There is little concern here with the American-ization of an open-ended European film by the production team. There isn't a lot different than the original in terms of plot and this movie tries to make it more "accessible." I was a bit skeptical to hear that there was a remake of this movie at all, the original which I loved. Make no mistake: both films are good. However, the original film successfully states its points and makes the viewer sort it out. This version attempts to make the viewer feel one way emotionally about both sides instead of allowing the viewer on their own. It is a different approach. Not unsuccessful but not as effective as the original.

Unnecessary...

[xxmisssvxx · 4/10 · 8 October 2022]

I watched this the other day because I didn't realize they had remade it, and honestly, it's was unnecessary. It was bland and fell flat, pointless to make. The foreign version is far more creepier and keeps the suspense throughout the entire film. This American version lacks regardless of the work of the actors, and it wasn't needed altogether.

I rate this a solid 4/10 for the attempt, for what the film is but it's not worth a higher rating than this. There was potential to really deliver on this remake but again, it really wasn't necessary considering the foreign version dominates this one. I usually gives any remakes/reboots the benefit of doubt once until I see it and make my opinion from there.

This was meh. Not good. Not terrible. Just meh. It could be better, much better, but it ....wasn't. Do yourself a favor and just watch the foreign version over this one. You'll be glad you did.

Wow! They got me!

[niseynisey · 9/10 · 16 September 2022]

Wow. This one was a surprise! I really enjoyed this one. It was in my suggested new releases so I gave it a shot! So glad I did. I just knew I knew everything that was going on, but found out I had it all wrong lol. The clues were all there, my brain just never figured them out. No silly jump scares. Just a good ole psychological thriller. I'll definitely have to rewatch this one to catch everything they laid out plain for me that I totally missed lol. Sounds like the original is even better than the remake so I'll check that one out too if it's on streaming. This is a good rainy Sunday movie.

I never saw the original everyone's talking about.

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 7/10 · 6 March 2023]

But this one was pretty darn good. I'm a huge fan of films with good twists, but I have to admit this one really fooled me good. So good in fact, that I had to re-watch it right after, because I began to questions my intelligence when I figured out how easily I was fooled into believing what the filmmakers wanted me to believe. Although the twist wasn't perfect due to the fact that the red herring the filmmakers gave the viewers was overdone to sway the story's tone, the narrative also had some plot holes to it. I also would've liked better pacing, because even at only 92 mins runtime, the film felt like it was dragging at certain times. Nevertheless, the casting and performances were on point, especially Watts, and the cinematography and score were spot on.

Unnecessary remake

[Royal_Horror · 3/10 · 20 September 2022]

If they had the budget to cast Naomi Watts , why not making a new completely different film ?? Why remaking something that wasn't needed 😭

Ps: leave foreign films alone.

This film personally didn't have a substance since it was a shot for shot remake , it didn't stand out by itself . They could have some so much more especially with the torture scenes . Naomi watts tried her best to give a great performance ( which she did ) but her character was so plain , same with the kids. It was so obvious what was going on . And most importantly, this film wasn't as creepy as the original , which proves that sometimes foreign films are better left out alone.

EXCELLENT PLOTLINE BUT POOR DIRECTION

[thatgirlwithyellowboots · 6/10 · 8 October 2022]

Summary: Lukas and Elias, twin boys, arrive to their mother's country house at the start of the film. They are shocked to find their mother wrapped in a surgical mask when they first arrive. She says that she had surgery and would likely be out of it in some time.

Boys begin to notice their mother's changes. She has turned controlling, aggressive, and less loving. Boys start looking into the woman behind the medical mask to find out who she really is.

Overall my views: Goodnight Mommy is a psychological thriller and I loved the fact, this movie mentally makes you crave and watch the agony and violence. I loved the characters and everything. I enjoyed thoroughly. Since the Ring series, Naomi Watts has been my favourite actor. Despite the fact that she is still bright and attractive. Her acting is sincere and conjures up reality. The concept behind this film was really great. However, it has the drawback of being badly written and directed. There are certain portions that leave me uncertain and confused. It all makes sense in the end, as the conclusion shows, but throughout the film, I felt like there was a thrill missing. Since the boy's characters are revolting against the lady acting as their mother, I had anticipated more confrontations between them.

RECOMMENDATION: I would recommend this movie more than 1 time.

figured it out about an hour in

[phenomynouss · 6/10 · 18 September 2022]

Maybe I'm smarter than I think I am sometimes, or maybe the film was intentionally hinting at it at the point in time when I figured it out (particularly as the film started to become less and less subtle about it soon after) but the way the revelation is treated leads me to think they weren't intending it to be something to be figured out within the first hour.

On top of that, it even pulls the same trick towards the end, in such a way that I figured it out like 2 minutes before it happened.

For the sake of the film being a fun enough watch, I won't say anything further about it.

It's a decent enough film of the pseudo-supernatural Capgras Delusion style "Something has happened and mommy is someone else now".

My single biggest issue with it is that, possibly hinging on the ending, there are so many instances of deliberate confusion and arguing between Elias and his mother that takes place that could so easily be resolved by someone, particularly the mother, just shutting up, listening to the words Elias is saying instead of the way he is saying them, and then responding accordingly.

As a non-spoiler example: If my friend confronts me angrily and says "Did you steal my money?" and I did not, I should say "No I didn't steal your money." I might resolve the situation, or at least defuse it.

If my friend confronts me angrily and says "Did you steal my money?" and I did not, and I say "How dare you accuse me of that? Who do you think you are?" I am not answering their question and I am only making the situation worse.

Every time a situation like that happens in the film, the mom picks the 2nd option, thus making the situation worse every time.

It was pretty good

[moniquerich · 7/10 · 17 September 2022]

I couldn't wait for this movie to come to Amazon Prime. Had it in my watchlist! I wasn't disappointed. To be honest, I was completely wrong about what was really going on.

The movie is about twin boys who suspect the woman who says she is their mother, isn't really mom. They find their "mom's" face covered in some kind of post cosmetic face mask when they first arrive. I wasn't quite sure how long it had been since they last saw her, the movie doesn't make that clear, but it must've been awhile. Anyway, her behavior becomes suspicious throughout the movie, leading the boys to think she isn't the mom they remembered.

You'll be playing the guessing game through most of the movie, like I did. Or maybe you'll catch on. Who knows (shrugs), but what I do know is......it's a GOOD watch! Don't cheat yourself, dear reader, TREAT YOURSELF!

Another needless remake

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 10 October 2022]

I did see the Austrian original so it's no surprise that Hollywood would remake it before long. This time around we get Naomi Watts playing the bandaged mother recovering from surgery in a house with her kids. The problem is that she's acting oddly and out of character and the kids are coming to believe that she's not really their mother. This is another slow and low fi horror that goes for maximum creepiness that doesn't really work. Watts is okay, never one of my favourite actresses, but the direction is substandard and the reliance on jump scares in dream sequences quite tiresome. Not for me!

I haven't seen the original.

[Dodge-Zombie · 4/10 · 17 September 2022]

So as I said above I have not seen the original movie on which this remake is based. I therefore cannot compare the two movies and so I can only judge this movie as an original concept.

So all that being said I didn't hate this movie but it annoyed me how very obvious the actual story was.

As we are all well aware with these kinds of movies there is always some twist or whatever and I got thie movies so quick it was insane.

That being said I thought some of the acting was ok.

The story also kind of left some questions answered but not in a way that I found were fully answered. The end also seemed rushed to a degree.

If you don't find yourself guessing plots and can just switch off to watch you may enjoy it more than I was able to.

Dysfunctional family

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 4 October 2022]

No pun intended - if you have seen the original (movie from Austria, that was released 8 years ago), you probably should not watch this movie. Why did I watch it? Well I watch a lot - I am saying if you only watch one movie, make it the original! Having said that, the story is strong enough to carry through this remake and make it a good movie too.

The acting is really good and you may be annoyed or feel angry at times, but it does make sense. Maybe because I knew the original I was even more tuned in (sensitive) of the overall twist. The horror works - I feel like the US remake is a bit - well tries to pull punches at times. But I could be wrong, it has been quite a long time since I saw the original.

Seen worse movies - and for those who are not aware of the original and watched this before even reading reviews or informing themselves of the existence of the original, I assume had some fun/scary time with it. Good for you - and as you can see, I feel that is possible.

Watch the original!

[brooksblueyez · 2/10 · 18 September 2022]

I agree with most of the user reviews here... This version gives away the plot twist way too early. Also, it is a very watered down take on the original movie. It tries to bring around tension with somewhat gory scenes that all turn out to be dreams. The original wasn't like that at all!

The original was tense, on the edge of your seat watching, with superb performances by all the actors.

If you want to watch the Austrian original, which does have subtitles, look for it on the free app Tubi. That's where I saw it and rate it a superior movie.

I don't know why the filmmakers bothered with making this film.

Yes, I had it figured out early, but still...

[torijoyous-69964 · 7/10 · 21 September 2022]

This was a good one. I did not watch the original, but I found this to be engaging. Another poster said he/she figured out what the deal was one hour into the film. I think I am the same as that reviewer. But who cares? It was still a good, solid film, and my whole (three generational) family enjoyed our viewing. I actually liked it well enough that I would have liked to see more. I would like to know more of the backstory. What was I really supposed to take from this? I have my theories, but I would love to know what the screenwriter had in mind. Anyway, I did not see the original, but I would really recommend this to those who like thrillers. :-)

Presictable

[mduffy-05140 · 3/10 · 20 September 2022]

This is actually the first time I have posted a review of a movie on IMDB. I usually rely on what others opinions are on the movies I see bring a big horror fan. I was disappointed. I saw the original years ago but about 4 minutes into this I know the entire plot. The original kept me on edge as to what was happening with the kids and why they were uncomfortable with spending time with their mother. Not very good at disguising what is is. Naomi Watts needs to find an original script instead of doing these sub par remakes.if you never saw the original you may enjoy this movie but I can tell you this is sub par.