Motherland

Audience Reviews

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Jule R One of my favorite films, really. Has true, good, and beautiful ideas in it. They are portrayed nearly perfectly by the fabulous actors and actresses in the film. Not an action film as much as you might think for a sci fi ,but I think it’s kind of relieving to see a movie that stands up for the right morals. You don’t have to like the movie in whole, but realizing the message of the movie is important, it’s deeper than entertainment it’s ideals and it’s showing what our community could become if we don’t stick to core beliefs set by religious and philosophical characters in history. Truly was an amazing representation of how we could lose the true, good, and beautiful, but it also shows how we should strive to reconnect to these values no matter the cost, for they are truth, and truth is life. I would love to congratulate all who worked on this film as it has shown me the courage you must have in a world of killers, murders, and liars. In all great movie would recommend!👍 Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/26/25 Full Review Azin R ABSOLUTE CINEMA! 🙌 Kept me on my toes. Will definitely recommend to others!! 🍿👏👏👏🎬 Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/25/25 Full Review DeAnn S Motherland grabs the audience and brings us into a rich and visceral dystopian world locking us into a plausible and horrifying scenario. Expertly directed by Evan Matthews, Miriam Silverman, Holland Taylor, and Nestor Carbonell deliver BIG leaving us feeling and thinking long beyond the credits. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/24/25 Full Review N. F I've seen my fair share of dystopian movies, but Evan Matthews’s Motherland stands out for its weirdly plausible premise. Set in an alternate present where the state assumes full responsibility for raising children, the film imagines a society built on control, detachment, and the suppression of parental bonds. Unlike many cautionary tales, this isn’t a future of robots and gleaming towers... it’s a near‑present that looks and feels eerily similar to our own. That familiarity makes the film’s horrors resonate. The mood and texture evoke Mark Romanek’s adaptation of Never Let Me Go. Matthews and cinematographer Ksusha Genenfeld craft a visual palette reminiscent of Romanek’s collaboration with Adam Kimmel. Muted tones, soft natural light, and compositions that frame their characters against grounded settings. The effect is immersive, creating the sense that this world actually exists, could exist. There’s a dreamlike beauty to the bleakness, and the camera lingers on small details like the user interface for the computer systems that speak volumes about the characters’ emotional isolation. For a film that runs barely over ninety minutes, Motherland achieves a surprising amount. The story follows a by‑the‑book rule enforcer who begins to question her place in the system after uncovering a devastating secret. Matthews wisely avoids the didacticism that plagues many allegories. There are no scene stealing villains or long heroic monologues. Instead, he trusts his actors to convey complex moral conflicts through nuance. Miriam Silverman, Holland Taylor and Emily Arancio headline the cast, and Silverman is particularly compelling as a woman torn between duty and conscience. Her performance hits a raw nerve..she lets us see the cracks forming in her stoic façade without ever telegraphing exactly what she’ll do next. The film’s conclusion is unflinching and gritty. Some may find it bleak, but it’s true to the logic of the world Matthews has built. The “nanny‑state” concept is taken to its extreme, yet it feels disturbingly realistic. The haunting score and careful sound design complement the visuals, elevating tension without resorting to generic dystopian drones. Motherland isn’t without flaws. Viewers who crave clear answers may be frustrated by the film’s refusal to moralize. Still, that ambiguity is part of its strength. Matthews presents this imagined society with a straight face and lets the audience decide how to feel about it. In an era of polarizing narratives, Motherland dares to unsettle, provoke, and invite conversation. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/24/25 Full Review TimGargiulo M This is a truly moving drama that handles its political content and implications quite well! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/23/25 Full Review Brian J What a story and script. This is a provocative film that had me thinking through some many different outcomes and ideas. It's deep and a thriller at the same time and I was getting The Village and Hunger Games vibes, in a good way. Looking for something a little different, give this a watch. A had a few audible gasps towards the end. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/23/25 Full Review Read all reviews

Motherland

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