Mother!

THE GIST: An acclaimed poet and his loving wife live in a secluded mansion, surrounded by woods and not much else. He currently suffers from writer's block and she's as supportive as possible. One day, a stranger knocks on the door and is welcomed in, to the poet's delight, even though his wife is wary of him. Soon, other people start showing up, and the poet, whose creativity seems stimulated by the arrivals, gleefully engages with all of them, to the dismay of his wife. What will happen to their once tranquil existence? How will their relationship be affected?

Mother! is a Darren Aronofsky movie through and through. If you enjoy his work, you'll likely be intrigued by this movie and its slowly unfolding central mystery. If you don't, you might be quite turned off before the end.

Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem do a fantastic job, and the supporting cast if stellar, with great actors like Ed Harris, Brian Gleeson, Domhnall Gleeson, Kristen Wiig, and Michelle Pfeiffer who's absolutely captivating.

THE BOTTOM LINE: This movie is certainly out-there, but the surprise ending works brilliantly.

Grade: 7