Mothers' Instinct

Released Jul 26

1h 34m

Mystery & Thriller

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List

53%

Tomatometer

59 Reviews

44%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Set in the early '60s, best friends and neighbors Alice (Jessica Chastain) and Celine (Anne Hathaway) both live an idyllic traditional lifestyle with manicured lawns, successful husbands, and sons of the same age. Life's perfect harmony is suddenly shattered after a tragic accident. Guilt, suspicion and paranoia combine to unravel their sisterly bond a psychological battle of wills begins as the maternal instinct reveals its darker side.

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Critics Consensus

Mothers' Instinct is a glossily enjoyable showcase for Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway, although the stars are ill-served by a thin story and shaky tonal command.

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Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

“Mothers’ Instinct” gets by on its pulpy potential more than anything else.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 16, 2024

Full Review

Ty Burr

Washington Post

The movie that is is disappointingly bloodless, cold rather than chilling, with a payoff that isn’t shocking so much as an admission that we’ve spent 90 minutes we’ll never get back.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 15, 2024

Full Review

Richard Lawson

Vanity Fair

It is slickly made and thoroughly entertaining, flamboyant flourishes and all. But it seems that, with a few minor exceptions, no one really knows what to do with movies like it anymore.

Jul 31, 2024

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Mini Anthikad-Chhibber

The Hindu

While Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway are luminescent, and the production design suitably eye-popping, all the hard work is let down by a skittering script that refuses to settle

Oct 4, 2024

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Marshall Shaffer

Decider

The film consists of nothing but the obvious, maudlin sections that convey plot movement and has none of the nuanced scenes that would need to follow and redeem them.

Aug 19, 2024

Full Review

Antonio G. Spíndola

Cine Premiere

An enjoyable thriller from start to finish; one that knows how to keep a few cards up its sleeve and enjoys its two powerful stars. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 3/5

Aug 19, 2024

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Ariel W

Spoiler alert! This film is reminiscent of 60s television shows which conveniently had characters act against their previous suspicions about the dangers of the person they are now going to be kind to, simply because the screenwriter needs to move the plot along within an hour, doing so by sometimes making women seem naive and psychologically damaged. As an homage to those productions this fills the bill, but as a modern creation it is uncomfortably insipid. The female actors are great, filling moments with big emotions and physical excellence - the fight scene is riveting - interiors and costumes are spot on but these fulfillments aren't enough to satisfy our contemporary need for the pithy reality of continuity in the story. The gaps in credibility strain - where were Celine and Theo while the house filled with noxious gas? If Alice believes Celine killed Simon's mother and covets Alice's son, why let her into the house again? Mother's Instinct fails, sadly.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/02/24

Full Review

Jenaro V

Pensé que iba a ser un drama mucho más denso, pero esta bien estructurado, no quiere ser tan melodramático y lleva bien el misterio, si me hizo un poco de ruido no saber bien la época en la que estaban como para no tener un teléfono en casa con el que llamar al 911. Me gustó el final.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/30/24

Full Review

Keanna L

The worst movie, don't waste ur energy . Never created a review. Made an account just to express my discust with this video.. really trying to rott people's minds and souls with this one .

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/28/24

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Steve D

Trash, but beautifully acted trash.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/01/24

Full Review

Sam A

Good watch. Should come with a trigger warning of child death though. It's a sinister tale where a woman's paranoia is justified. Brilliant performances from all the cast

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/22/24

Full Review

Fabio X

Horrible. Can't believe they did something like that. What were they thinking?

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/22/24

Full Review

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Benoît Delhomme

Director

Jessica Chastain

Alice

Anne Hathaway

Celine

Josh Charles

Actor

Anders Danielsen Lie

Actor

Caroline Lagerfelt

Actor

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Mothers' Instinct: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Set in the early '60s, best friends and neighbors Alice (Jessica Chastain) and Celine (Anne Hathaway) both live an idyllic traditional lifestyle with manicured lawns, successful husbands, and sons of the same age. Life's perfect harmony is suddenly shattered after a tragic accident. Guilt, suspicion and paranoia combine to unravel their sisterly bond a psychological battle of wills begins as the maternal instinct reveals its darker side.

Director: Benoît Delhomme
Producer: Kelly Carmichael, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Paul Nelson, Jacques-Henri Bronckart
Screenwriter: Sarah Conradt-Kroehler
Distributor: NEON
Production Co: Anton, Mosaic, Freckle Films, Versus Production, Wheelhouse Productions
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 26, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 13, 2024
Runtime: 1h 34m

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