47 reviews
Better than I thought it would be. The acting was pretty good all around. However, the storyline was predictable. I knew when I watched the trailer. Just hoping I was wrong.
Still, not bad at all.
Still, not bad at all.
- samwillis-86658
- Dec 7, 2021
- Permalink
I take a middle position on the rating. Kate is writing a book, stuck in a small farmhouse out in the sticks. Her daughter Beth has just celebrated her ninth birthday, but seems sullen about it. We find that there was a gruesome murder of a child, and Kate and Beth are in the witness protection program, the husband convicted of the murder of the child. We are shown in flashbacks bits and pieces of what happened. Meanwhile, there seems to be sinister things happening around the house. Kate sees danger everywhere, while Beth doesn't, and simply says the house is haunted. The rest of the movie may be standard movie fair, while others may appreciate the bits and twists in it. Most will remember the acting of the Beth character.
So this wasn't the worse movie I've seen, but it definitely wasn't the best. The acting wasn't bad, some of the camera shots were really good, but the storyline I felt was very weak. The double twist at the end was decent considering my opinion on the storyline itself. I try my best with these suspense movies to have a clear, open mind, so I don't figure out the twist at the end. This movie was a little difficult to do that with. I wish they delved a bit deeper on the characters and their backgrounds specifically the daughter. I feel for a "psychological thriller", the movie was way too short. I don't regret watching it, but I wouldn't freely recommend. If you stumble upon the movie like I did-then sure, I think it's worth a watch.
- danielserrano-19027
- Aug 13, 2023
- Permalink
This little thriller starts out well, with a mother and daughter sequestered in the countryside--which the latter is growing bored and petulant about, while the former is clearly afraid of whatever they're running from, which we assume is a violent husband/father. Eventually there are intruders, and this home invasion soon changes the dynamic of who did what and who should be afraid of whom. Those factors keep changing, and "Motherly's" plot twists would be decent enough if it didn't make a big mistake. I won't spoil that here, but suffice it to say the script eventually places far too great a burden on the sole child actor, who can't pull it off (no one her age could), and it turns the whole thing ridiculous. The film ends on notes that are both mean-spirited and cheesy, really destroying its modest but real initial potential. It's all decently crafted and acted, and resourceful considering a low budget. But when a plot goes this far off the rails, it takes the whole movie down with it.
It was really nice I never thought I was gonna like it but wow it had some nice plot twists and I didn't know how it was gonna end I couldn't predict it. The girl playing the daughter was really getting on my nerves though I'm not gonna spoil anything, but overall the acting was good enough and the plot as well, it is one of the few watchable horror movies of 2021.
- marinaant-36217
- Nov 19, 2021
- Permalink
This isn't bad. It's just familiar. There's a lot of foreshadowing that was too obvious and took away from the ending. Not awful. Not amazing. It was an average watch for my night on the couch.
- Foutainoflife
- Nov 18, 2021
- Permalink
For the viewer that like some small bonussurprises in the end. Its the silent killer that roams the house in a cat and mouse game of lie and deceift.
Its a lowcost production with of the hook actors, that does a pretty decent job after all, there are too much monologue and some clutching flashbacks in the start that may come to loose some viewers. But the production is ok, a bit overwhelming on the loud ambient score that lurks the background like a tummy full of laksantia.
A well chosen location, where there are loads of hideaways possible and it all turns out freekin evil in the end. The grumpy old man gives a small recommend.
Its a lowcost production with of the hook actors, that does a pretty decent job after all, there are too much monologue and some clutching flashbacks in the start that may come to loose some viewers. But the production is ok, a bit overwhelming on the loud ambient score that lurks the background like a tummy full of laksantia.
A well chosen location, where there are loads of hideaways possible and it all turns out freekin evil in the end. The grumpy old man gives a small recommend.
I gave this 5 stars, because it's quite a good idea for a story, and the mum is a good actress, only thing is that it's totally obvious what the outcome/twist will be.
I didn't enjoy watching this film as I was distracted and annoyed from the start at how horrible the kid is. She should spend the whole movie on the naughty step. I suppose it does make a change from the usual goody goody kids in American films, but she so rude it's actually annoying that the mum doesn't spend the first half shouting at her for being a total brat.
I didn't enjoy watching this film as I was distracted and annoyed from the start at how horrible the kid is. She should spend the whole movie on the naughty step. I suppose it does make a change from the usual goody goody kids in American films, but she so rude it's actually annoying that the mum doesn't spend the first half shouting at her for being a total brat.
- queenrobinsnest-25324
- Dec 14, 2021
- Permalink
With all the TOTAL JUNK movies constantly being released this was a good watch! I figured out the ending before the big reveal but it was still a nice plot! The acting was good although the mom totally got on my nerves. Add another flick with the dumbest cop ever. I get sick of movies portraying cops as buffoons but this guy was definitely a loser. And where was the rest of the police force after he called them? That house must have been 50 miles from civilization. I'm not sure how realistic the plot actually was given the holes, but it was entertaining and better than most movies I watch. Anyone who rated it extremely low is not being fair...
- tbridges-51557
- Feb 20, 2022
- Permalink
Whether you think you've guessed the ending or not there are still surprises that will get you. If you enjoy thrillers/psychological movies you'll enjoy this. The setting is nice to look at and the acting is good. Deserves a much higher rating on IMDb.
- westpointmajorette
- Dec 17, 2021
- Permalink
The first half was very slow & boring even though the writing, acting & direction are perfectly fine. The second half is pretty good. If you can make it through the first half, then the second half is worth the wait.
- atwiththestars
- Jun 4, 2022
- Permalink
- nogodnomasters
- Dec 14, 2021
- Permalink
What can I say, wasn't expecting that. Top class acting, plenty of blood don't want to say to much more in case I spoil it. You might ask why only 7 stars but I have noticed that many people get carried away when awarding stars in their reviews, you only give 10 stars to the likes of SEVEN,SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION,GOODFELLAS and many more.
- braids-10242
- Nov 17, 2021
- Permalink
Good premise but poor execution. The film is too predictable because it relies on overused horror tropes everyone has seen a million times before. The screenplay isn't particularly good, and neither was the acting. So, it's a thumbs down from me.
- Horror_Flick_Fanatic
- Feb 12, 2022
- Permalink
- BandSAboutMovies
- Nov 14, 2021
- Permalink
- draftdubya
- Jan 7, 2022
- Permalink
Kate is celebrating her daughter Beth's birthday. There is only the two of them on a remote farm. Beth's father was apparently a killer and they're in witness protection. A couple breaks in and takes them hostage. They accuse Kate of actually doing the killing.
This is a horror indie thriller. I guess. It's not really a horror. The thrills are not really that thrilling. This movie needs to start with Beth solidly as the lead. It should not be Kate's story. Kate is a bit too complicated. I'd rather not dig into that too much. This is all about the twist. It's a great twist but it's not done well enough here. This movie needs bigger actors. It needs some re-arranging.
This is a horror indie thriller. I guess. It's not really a horror. The thrills are not really that thrilling. This movie needs to start with Beth solidly as the lead. It should not be Kate's story. Kate is a bit too complicated. I'd rather not dig into that too much. This is all about the twist. It's a great twist but it's not done well enough here. This movie needs bigger actors. It needs some re-arranging.
- SnoopyStyle
- Jul 21, 2022
- Permalink
I was lured into watching the 2021 thriller "Motherly" given the movie's cover/poster. And yeah, I found that to be rather interesting and nicely constructed. Had I heard about "Motherly" prior to watching it in 2022? No, not even a single word. So I didn't know what to expect from writers Ian Malone and Craig David Wallace.
And I will say that "Motherly" started out alright, but then the movie quickly fell into a monotonous pace and trot, from where it never actually recovered. So you are not in for a grand experience of thriller cinema here. In fact, the pacing of the storyline rather took away the majority of enjoyment from the movie.
The storyline was just too mundane and bland for my liking, and the slow monotonous pacing didn't really help one bit. So I wasn't particularly entertained or impressed with director Craig David Wallace's 2021 movie. Sure, I managed to endure it to the end, but I wasn't particularly enjoying the movie.
And while we are talking about endings, then there is a surprise twist to "Motherly". Was it a good or bad ending? Well, that it certainly up for debate and something of a personal preference, of course. I wasn't particularly impressed with the ending, though it was a surprise ending that I didn't see coming. But I have to admit that I just didn't care about the movie or the characters in it enough to actually be swooped away by the surprise ending.
One thing that "Motherly" has working for it is the acting performances. Despite of having a subpar script and storyline to work with, then the acting performances in the movie were actually quite good. And that has to count for something, right?
For a thriller then "Motherly" was a swing and a miss. And my rating of director Craig David Wallace's movie lands on a generous three out of ten stars.
And I will say that "Motherly" started out alright, but then the movie quickly fell into a monotonous pace and trot, from where it never actually recovered. So you are not in for a grand experience of thriller cinema here. In fact, the pacing of the storyline rather took away the majority of enjoyment from the movie.
The storyline was just too mundane and bland for my liking, and the slow monotonous pacing didn't really help one bit. So I wasn't particularly entertained or impressed with director Craig David Wallace's 2021 movie. Sure, I managed to endure it to the end, but I wasn't particularly enjoying the movie.
And while we are talking about endings, then there is a surprise twist to "Motherly". Was it a good or bad ending? Well, that it certainly up for debate and something of a personal preference, of course. I wasn't particularly impressed with the ending, though it was a surprise ending that I didn't see coming. But I have to admit that I just didn't care about the movie or the characters in it enough to actually be swooped away by the surprise ending.
One thing that "Motherly" has working for it is the acting performances. Despite of having a subpar script and storyline to work with, then the acting performances in the movie were actually quite good. And that has to count for something, right?
For a thriller then "Motherly" was a swing and a miss. And my rating of director Craig David Wallace's movie lands on a generous three out of ten stars.
- paul_haakonsen
- Feb 6, 2022
- Permalink
The usual setup of females held hostage in a remote house, but in this case the background and ending denouement were creatively different than what we usually see. Acting was good.
- westsideschl
- Jun 15, 2022
- Permalink
It's like a 'who-dun-it' film, where there's questions about missing/dead children - both from today, and from decades ago. The Father of the main family is already serving a long jail sentence as he confessed to killing a child recently, leaving the mother and their little girl alone together. Of course the girl is seemingly having issues with her Father being gone, but Mom tries to do her best.
From the middle to the end there are situations of blame from the living parents, as well as the haunted house. As that plays out - more information is learned, and some confessions are made. ENDING WAS GREAT - I gave it an extra star just for that! That's all I'm saying without spoiling anything.
Definitely Recommend.
From the middle to the end there are situations of blame from the living parents, as well as the haunted house. As that plays out - more information is learned, and some confessions are made. ENDING WAS GREAT - I gave it an extra star just for that! That's all I'm saying without spoiling anything.
Definitely Recommend.
- gunn-wrights
- May 20, 2023
- Permalink
Motherly is a bit too slow paced to my liking. It just lacks the momentum to keep you interested. From the start you have the feeling what the outcome will be and although the ending was a bit surprising (at least to me as my wife figured it all out before) it still didn't managed to wow me. The acting wasn't bad, just average I would say. If you're expecting horror you won't get it unless you're easily horrified. It wasn't even that thrilling to be honest. It's watchable, I've seen a lot worse, but it definitely won't make it in my list of movies that I will remember, on the contrary I already forgot most about it.
- deloudelouvain
- May 26, 2024
- Permalink
If you are looking for something original and not predictable, this one is not for you. However, not entirely unsuccessful.
This was a tad slow but not horribly so. The plot felt derivative of things Ive seen in the past and it was pretty darn predictable each step of the way. Speaking of which, whoever chose that cover was... not smart.
One of my biggest problems with this was the script. Guys, it was bad. I mean, as an actor if I was handed that script with those lines/dialogue... I would think twice.
With that being said I don't even want to negatively comment on any acting as they did not have much to work with. But what I will say it I quite liked the main actress and she had a few really shining moments. I'd love to see her in something else.
Also, whoever was in charge of continuity need to hone their eye a bit. Not something I would normally comment on but there were a few things that were quite blatant (one of which involving a bloody nose or lack there of)
With some good acting moments, a creepy score and decent pacing and action that kept me engaged, as I said, this was not entirely unsuccessful. I would recommend but towards the bottom of your list.
This was a tad slow but not horribly so. The plot felt derivative of things Ive seen in the past and it was pretty darn predictable each step of the way. Speaking of which, whoever chose that cover was... not smart.
One of my biggest problems with this was the script. Guys, it was bad. I mean, as an actor if I was handed that script with those lines/dialogue... I would think twice.
With that being said I don't even want to negatively comment on any acting as they did not have much to work with. But what I will say it I quite liked the main actress and she had a few really shining moments. I'd love to see her in something else.
Also, whoever was in charge of continuity need to hone their eye a bit. Not something I would normally comment on but there were a few things that were quite blatant (one of which involving a bloody nose or lack there of)
With some good acting moments, a creepy score and decent pacing and action that kept me engaged, as I said, this was not entirely unsuccessful. I would recommend but towards the bottom of your list.
- Howling_at_the_Moon_Reviews
- Aug 11, 2022
- Permalink
First this movie is pretty good, the acting tho not the best is passable ,i enjoyed the few characters we do get are pretty interesting you can see why everyone does what they do in this movie thier reasons are made very clear. The movie def wraps its self up in a very different way, i watch a ton of these kinds of movies so i spoted the twist a mile away but i still enjoyed it! Its kinda funny it seems like evey single young child is wrote as the same trope, disrespectful, mean, spoiled, ect you know the trope lol maybe i just started paying attension but that spoiled kid is in just about every single movie i watch lol!! Overall tho id give this movie a 6 out of 10 it kept me entertained the whole time!
- buckeyefanohiostate
- Dec 1, 2022
- Permalink