Buzz
On September 15, 2017, Darren Aronofsky’s psychological horror-thriller mother! hit theaters, featuring Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem as a couple whose peaceful life is thrown into chaos by unexpected visitors, portrayed by Ed Harris, Michelle Pfeiffer, and others.
The production of the film was shrouded in secrecy, with details about its plot and themes only emerging a few months prior to its premiere.
Beyond sharing some intriguing and eerie behind-the-scenes tidbits about mother!, we’ll also provide essential insights to help you decide whether to purchase a ticket or stream this polarizing movie. Here are the top 10 shocking facts about Darren Aronofsky’s mother!, featuring Jennifer Lawrence.
10. Darren Aronofsky Completed the Script in Just Five Days
For those unfamiliar, Darren Aronofsky is the acclaimed writer-director behind iconic films like Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler, and Black Swan. It’s clear that he has a masterful grasp of screenwriting.
Despite his extensive experience, the screenplay for mother! was penned in just five days.
Aronofsky shared insights into the film’s creation during an interview ahead of its debut at the Venice Film Festival. “I was filled with rage and anger, and I wanted to channel that into a single, intense emotion,” he explained. “The first draft of the script flowed out of me in just five days.”
The director later revealed to Variety, “It was an unusual experience. Most of my films take years, even decades, to develop. Black Swan took 10 years, Noah took 20 years, but this film came together in just five days.”
Interestingly, the film was initially titled Day 6.
9. Jennifer Lawrence Suffered a Dislocated Rib While Filming
Jennifer Lawrence is renowned for her dedication to her roles, and she pushed herself to the limit in Darren Aronofsky’s latest film. During one particularly intense scene, her hyperventilation was so severe that filming had to be paused so she could receive oxygen.
It was later discovered that her intense hyperventilation during the scene had caused a rib to dislocate.
Lawrence recounted the incident to Vanity Fair: “I had oxygen tubes in my nose, and Darren said, ‘It was out of focus; we need to reshoot.’ I just told him, ‘Go f—k yourself.’ ”
To help Lawrence relax between takes, the crew set up a special happy room. This tent-like space was stocked with gumballs and featured a TV that endlessly played episodes of Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
This actually happened.
When asked about Lawrence’s “happy room,” director Aronofsky admitted, “I wasn’t part of that. I was like, ‘What’s this about the Kardashians?’ ”
It’s reassuring to know that the director of a film as unconventional as mother! considers using the Kardashians as a calming technique to be utterly bizarre. That certainly puts things into perspective.
8. The Movie Carries a Hard ‘R’ Rating
If you’re familiar with Aronofsky’s previous works, this won’t come as a shock. From the harrowing Requiem for a Dream, which was so graphically grotesque and intense that it earned an NC-17 rating, to the psychological thriller Black Swan, Aronofsky is no stranger to explicit violence and mature themes.
Given the MPAA’s rating, mother! follows suit. Rated “R” for “intense violent scenes, sexual content, nudity, and strong language,” this is a film you might want to reconsider watching with your mother.
Unless, of course, she enjoys that kind of content. If so, more power to you and your family. Sit back and enjoy the movie.
7. Jennifer Lawrence and Darren Aronofsky Began Dating During Filming
This might venture into gossip territory, but it’s still a fascinating tidbit about the film. Yes, Jennifer Lawrence and Darren Aronofsky started dating after the movie wrapped. Despite the dislocated ribs and other challenges, the production must have had its enjoyable moments.
Speaking about her relationship with the acclaimed director, Lawrence mentioned, “We had chemistry. I felt a strong connection to him. I’m not sure how he felt about me.” She also described him as an “incredible father.” Despite their 21-year age gap (Aronofsky is 48, Lawrence is 27), they appear to be a great match.
“I usually don’t get along with Harvard graduates because they can’t resist mentioning their alma mater every two minutes,” Lawrence shared with Vanity Fair. “But he’s not like that.”
Good for him. I also try not to brag about my community college background.
6. Michelle Pfeiffer Was Initially Confused by the Script
If you’re feeling lost while watching mother!, take solace in knowing that the brilliant and stunning Michelle Pfeiffer was just as baffled—though she experienced it much earlier in the process.
During an interview with Aronofsky before the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival, he asked Pfeiffer about her initial thoughts on the script. She admitted, “I can’t say I fully understood it the first time I read it.”
She went on to say, “It’s a bit abstract, isn’t it?” Then she added, “But I absolutely loved this character. I connected with her. I understood her. I could really feel it.”
It’s great to hear she eventually connected with the role, especially since her performance appears to be outstanding. And since when do actors need to fully grasp a script before committing to a role?
Exactly.
5. The Film’s Poster Mirrors the Rosemary’s Baby Poster
Isn’t there an old saying that goes, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”?
One of our all-time favorite psychological horror films is Roman Polanski’s iconic Rosemary’s Baby. When the poster for Aronofsky’s new film was released, it took us less than 10 seconds to exclaim, “Rosemary’s Mother?”
That said, the movie isn’t intended to be a remake or reimagining of Polanski’s work. Aronofsky and his marketing team simply share our admiration for the classic film.
Either way, you can compare the two posters above and decide for yourself. Is it a heartfelt tribute or a blatant copy?
We lean toward the first option.
4. Unconventional Character Names
Let’s be clear: mother! is an unconventional film. If you need proof of just how bizarre and avant-garde Darren Aronofsky’s work is, take a quick look at the cast list on IMDb.
With Jennifer Lawrence as “Mother” and Javier Bardem as “Him,” you’ll quickly grasp the artistic and experimental nature of this film.
With additional character names like “Whoremonger,” “Fornicator,” “Slave Driver,” and Kristen Wiig’s “Herald,” you might mistake this for a new installment in George Miller’s Mad Max series.
Seriously, take a moment to check out the cast list after reading this article. Browsing through the names alone will be one of the most amusing things you do today.
3. Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes
As of September 2017, mother! holds a “certified fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While there’s no unanimous critical consensus, the positive buzz appears to far outweigh the negative.
Ultimately, it’s up to us, the audience, to form our own opinions about the film. If you haven’t seen it yet, are you eager to watch it? And most importantly, do you believe the movie’s tagline: “You Will Never Forget Where You Were When You First Saw mother!”?
Let’s hope that last statement holds true. We’re overdue for a groundbreaking horror-thriller. It’s been a while—almost as long as the wait since Aronofsky’s Black Swan premiered.
Here’s hoping mother! aligns more with that cinematic gem than his earlier work, Noah. That film can remain submerged for all we care.
2. The Film Received Boos at Its Premiere
Darren Aronofsky is no stranger to the Venice Film Festival. In 2008, his film The Wrestler, featuring Mickey Rourke, won the festival’s highest honor, the Golden Lion. The festival also hosted premieres for his films The Fountain and Black Swan.
Aronofsky even served as the head of the festival’s main jury in 2011.
However, when mother! debuted at the renowned festival in early September 2017, the admittedly unconventional film was met with boos from the audience. That said, many noted that the boos were “competing” with cheers from the crowd.
So, Aronofsky’s mother! fits right into his filmography. You’ll either adore it or despise it. And there’s nothing wrong with a film provoking such strong reactions.
1. Controversy Over the Mural
In what is arguably the most intriguing piece of trivia about mother!, the film’s marketing team faced significant backlash after commissioning a mural in Sydney, Australia, that overshadowed an existing artwork.
The mural reportedly concealed a two-decade-old painting by a local artist, showcasing animals in an urban setting beneath the phrase “it’s like a jungle sometimes,” a nod to a song by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five.
Aronofsky expressed regret over the mural covering the historic artwork and issued an apology on behalf of the advertising agency, Apparition Media. A spokesperson admitted they were unaware of the mural’s cultural significance and called their oversight a “grave error.”
The agency has since reached out to the original artist and offered assistance in restoring the mural to its former glory. A commendable gesture on their part.
