Mother’s Instinct ★★★

JESSICA Chastain and Anne Hathaway have great fun playing warring neighbours in the American psychological thriller Mother’s Instinct.

It’s a remake of a 2018 French film, adapted from a 2012 novel, re-set in 1960s suburban America.

Alice (Chastain) and Céline (Hathaway) are next-door neighbors and close friends. They both have boys of a similar age. 

A tragedy occurs causing the two women to become estranged from each other and, eventually, openly hostile.

Both react in ways that leave the audience wondering who is the worst protagonist.

The main reason to see the film is the acting which displays a perfectly balanced sense of absurdist tension.

Unfortunately, there are several plot holes in the later stages which detract from the overall impact and enjoyment.

Watched on Prime.