Retitled 'Goodnight Mommy' for international release, this Austrian mystery thriller focuses on a pair of preteen twin boys who come to the conclusion that an imposter has replaced their mother. As the boys come up with some seemingly compelling evidence (including an old photograph of their mother with a near-lookalike) the film almost works up a decent sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. Unfortunately, this is marred by the fact that the film spells out a twist concerning the two boys very early in, and much of the film feels rather clumsy as all attempts to mask the twist vary from unsubtle to simply pitiful. Fortunately, there is slightly more to the film than just the twist, and as the boys go to some memorable extremes towards the end, the film highlights just how detrimental and dangerous a dysfunctional relationship between parents and children can be. The film also manages to drum up a surprisingly large amount of thrills in spite of the obvious twist. A drawn-out scene involving two overzealous Red Cross workers never once rings true, but the nightmare sequences are very effective (especially a 'Jacob's Ladder' shaking head) as the boys' sense of reality becomes increasingly blurred. The ending resonates in the mind too - and not because of the twist but rather due to a graphic look at repercussions. Sure, 'Ich Seh Ich Seh' would have been more enticing without the twist spelled out, but with disquieting audio effects and stellar performances by the novice young leads, it would be a mistake to call the entire film a waste.
Review of Goodnight Mommy
