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Mothers’ Instinct (2024), directed by Benoît Delhomme, is a psychological thriller that brings together Academy Award winners Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway in a tale of friendship, grief, and paranoia. Released in select U.S. theaters on July 26, 2024, and digitally on August 13, 2024, this remake of the 2018 Belgian film Duelles (based on Barbara Abel’s 2012 novel Derrière la Haine) explores the unraveling bond between two suburban mothers after a tragic accident. The Official Trailer, released January 9, 2024, promised a gripping Hitchcockian drama, but the film has sparked mixed reactions. This 2000-word review delves into the plot, performances, direction, themes, and cultural impact, optimized for SEO to help fans and cinephiles navigate this divisive thriller.

Introduction to Mothers’ Instinct: A Suburban Nightmare

Set in 1960s suburban America, Mothers’ Instinct follows best friends and neighbors Alice (Jessica Chastain) and Céline (Anne Hathaway), whose idyllic lives—complete with manicured lawns, successful husbands, and young sons—are shattered by a devastating event. The Official Trailer, shared by StudioCanal and Neon, showcases the film’s retro aesthetic, chilling tension, and the star power of Chastain and Hathaway, who also serve as producers under Chastain’s Freckle Films. With a runtime of 1 hour 34 minutes and an R rating, the film leans into psychological suspense, evoking comparisons to What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? and Alfred Hitchcock’s classics.

Despite its promising setup and A-list cast, Mothers’ Instinct has a 53% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 47/100 on Metacritic, reflecting polarized reviews. Critics praise the performances but critique the thin story and tonal inconsistencies. Posts on X from January 2024 hyped the trailer, with @PopBase calling it a “mother-off,” but later sentiments, like @FilmUpdates noting the 57% Rotten Tomatoes debut, suggest disappointment. Let’s explore whether Mothers’ Instinct lives up to its potential.

Plot Overview: Grief, Guilt, and Gaslighting

Mothers’ Instinct centers on Alice (Chastain) and Céline (Hathaway), two 1960s housewives living next door in a picturesque suburb. Their sons, Theo (Eamon Patrick O’Connell) and Max (Baylen D. Bielitz), are close friends, and the women share a sisterly bond. The film opens with Alice throwing a surprise birthday party for Céline, but the next day, tragedy strikes: Alice, while pruning roses, sees Max precariously balancing on his balcony, attempting to hang a birdhouse. Unable to reach him in time, she witnesses his fatal fall, setting off a chain of guilt, suspicion, and paranoia.

Céline’s grief drives a wedge between the friends. Alice, wracked with shame for failing to save Max, grows anxious as Céline bonds with Theo, amplifying Alice’s fear that Céline might harm her son. The trailer captures this tension, with Céline’s plea, “Something is broken inside of me, and I need you,” and Alice’s retort, “What guilt, Alice?” The script, adapted by Sarah Conradt, plays a cat-and-mouse game of gaslighting, blurring the lines between victim and villain. As accusations escalate, the women’s polished exteriors crumble, revealing darker maternal instincts.

The film’s 94-minute runtime feels rushed, with a third act that critics, like those on Rotten Tomatoes, call “hogslop messy” due to its absurd twists. While the premise echoes Hitchcockian thrillers, the execution falters, leaning on stereotypes and a predictable resolution that undercuts the suspense.

Stellar Performances: Chastain and Hathaway Elevate the Material

Jessica Chastain as Alice

Jessica Chastain delivers a nuanced performance as Alice, a mother torn between guilt and protective instincts. Known for Zero Dark Thirty and The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Chastain imbues Alice with a Hitchcockian blonde poise—pin-curled updos and cardigan sets—while unraveling into paranoia. Her stricken eyes and aloof distance, as noted by Variety, convey Alice’s inner turmoil. X posts praise Chastain’s intensity, with @DiscussingFilm noting she “always crushes it.” Despite the script’s limitations, Chastain’s chemistry with Hathaway anchors the film, particularly in scenes of strained support.

Anne Hathaway as Céline

Anne Hathaway, fresh off Eileen and The Idea of You, tackles what she called her “hardest role” in a Vogue Hong Kong interview, citing its touch on her “worst fear” as a mother. As Céline, Hathaway channels Jackie O elegance with a black-widow edge, evoking Joan Crawford’s tragic acidity. Her performance shifts from warm maternal love to chilling hostility, with enormous eyes glimmering through a funeral veil, as Vulture describes. X users, like @PopCrave, lauded her “unconditional love” for Max, though some felt her villainous turn was jarring. Hathaway’s commitment elevates the melodrama, even when the script veers into absurdity.

Supporting Cast

Josh Charles and Anders Danielsen Lie play Alice and Céline’s husbands, Simon and Damian, offering solid but underutilized support. Charles, known for The Good Wife, brings warmth to Simon, while Lie (The Worst Person in the World) adds quiet intensity. The young actors, Eamon Patrick O’Connell and Baylen D. Bielitz, deliver affecting performances, though their roles are limited. Caroline Lagerfelt and others round out the suburban ensemble, but the focus remains on the leading ladies.

Benoît Delhomme’s Direction: Style Over Substance

Cinematographer-turned-director Benoît Delhomme, known for The Theory of Everything, makes his directorial debut with Mothers’ Instinct. His visual style—pastel Easter-egg costumes, hard angles, and somber shadows—creates a 1960s aesthetic that screams retro thriller, as The Hollywood Reporter notes. Delhomme’s cinematography is a highlight, framing Chastain and Hathaway like Hitchcock heroines against pristine suburban backdrops. Filmed in Cranford, New Jersey, from May to July 2022, the setting feels authentic, with period details like old cars and floral decor.

However, Delhomme’s inexperience as a director shows. Variety critiques the film’s lack of “grandeur” in melodrama or “savoir-faire” in noir, noting it “doesn’t breathe.” The pacing falters in the second act, with a rushed 94-minute runtime that skips over emotional beats. The original 2018 Duelles, directed by Olivier Masset-Depasse, was tighter and more purposeful, winning nine Magritte Awards. Delhomme replaced Masset-Depasse due to a “family commitment,” per Wikipedia, but struggles to match the Belgian film’s intensity. The soundtrack, while atmospheric, lacks a standout track to amplify the tension.

Themes and Cultural Impact: Maternal Love and Suburban Darkness

Mothers’ Instinct explores maternal love’s darker side, with grief and paranoia twisting Alice and Céline’s bond into a psychological battlefield. The film critiques 1960s suburban ideals, exposing the pressure on women to maintain perfection amid personal turmoil, akin to Mad Men or Don’t Worry Darling. Guilt, suspicion, and the fear of losing a child resonate universally, but the script’s reliance on stereotypes—like the unhinged grieving mother—limits depth.

The film’s cultural footprint is modest, hampered by a quiet U.S. release and mixed reviews. Neon’s limited theatrical rollout, with one daily 10 AM screening in top markets, as noted on Reddit, suggests low confidence, despite Chastain and Hathaway’s star power. X posts from July 2024, like @neonrated’s “Mother always knows best,” tried to drum up buzz, but the 53% Rotten Tomatoes score and comments like “I’ll wait for streaming” reflect audience hesitancy. Its digital release on August 13, 2024, via Prime Video, likely boosted viewership, with Rolling Stone calling it a “mother-off” for awards-season fans.

The film’s relevance lies in its showcase for two powerhouse actresses. Chastain compared it to What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? in an IndieWire interview, citing the thrill of two stars clashing. Hathaway’s real-life friendship with Chastain, evident in their Interstellar and Armageddon Time collaborations, adds authenticity to their chemistry, making their feud compelling despite narrative flaws.

Production and Marketing: A Star-Driven Remake

Produced by Freckle Films, Mosaic, and Anton, Mothers’ Instinct was fully financed by Anton, with Neon securing U.S. distribution rights in May 2022. StudioCanal handled the UK and Ireland, while Amazon MGM Studios covered Canada and Australia. Filming began in May 2022 in Union County, New Jersey, chosen for its period-appropriate housing, per Wikipedia. Chastain and Hathaway, alongside Kelly Carmichael, served as producers, with Masset-Depasse as an executive producer.

Marketing leaned on the star power, with the January 2024 trailer garnering attention via @DiscussingFilm and @PopCrave. A second trailer, released July 9, 2024, emphasized the Hitchcockian vibe, but some X users, like those on r/movies, felt it revealed too much. The first poster, shared by @FilmUpdates, highlighted the actresses’ elegance, but the limited theatrical push and lack of festival buzz—despite hopes for a fall 2023 premiere—curbed hype. The film’s Lithuanian release on March 8, 2024, and UK rollout preceded the U.S., puzzling fans on Reddit.

Strengths and Weaknesses: What Works and What Doesn’t

Strengths

• Performances: Chastain and Hathaway deliver compelling, awards-worthy turns, with strong chemistry.
• Visual Style: Delhomme’s cinematography and 1960s aesthetic are immersive and stylish.
• Premise: The exploration of grief and maternal instincts is intriguing and emotionally resonant.
• Chemistry: The real-life friendship between the leads adds authenticity to their feud.

Weaknesses

• Thin Story: The script’s predictable twists and stereotypes undermine the suspense.
• Tonal Issues: The film wavers between melodrama and noir, lacking a cohesive identity.
• Rushed Pacing: The 94-minute runtime skips key emotional beats, especially in the third act.
• Missed Potential: The remake pales against the sharper 2018 Duelles.

SEO Optimization: Why Mothers’ Instinct Matters in 2025

For searches like Mothers’ Instinct 2024 review, Anne Hathaway Jessica Chastain thriller, or psychological thriller 1960s, the film remains relevant for fans of Chastain, Hathaway, or retro dramas. Keywords like Hitchcockian thriller, Mothers’ Instinct trailer, and Neon psychological drama drive traffic, reflecting its niche appeal. Available on Prime Video, it’s accessible for streaming audiences, with Vulture noting its potential as a GIF-worthy cult classic.

The film taps into 2020s trends of female-led thrillers, like The Undoing or Your Honor, but its lukewarm reception limits its awards-season buzz. X posts from March 2024, like @FilmUpdates’ Rotten Tomatoes update, show initial excitement fading into skepticism. Its exploration of maternal fears resonates, but comparisons to stronger Hitchcock homages, like Gone Girl, highlight its shortcomings.

Conclusion: A Stylish but Unsatisfying Thriller

Mothers’ Instinct is a glossy showcase for Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway, whose performances elevate a thin, uneven script. Benoît Delhomme’s directorial debut offers striking visuals but lacks the narrative depth or tonal command to match its ambitions. While the premise of grief-fueled paranoia intrigues, the rushed pacing and predictable twists disappoint, making it a lesser echo of the 2018 Duelles.

For fans of Chastain and Hathaway or 1960s-set dramas, Mothers’ Instinct is worth a stream on Prime Video, but temper expectations. Catch it for the star power and retro vibe, but don’t expect a new Hitchcock classic. For more, visit Neon’s site or join the discussion on X.