Mothers’ Instinct (2019) – A Tense, Stylish Descent into Grief and Paranoia
Directed by Olivier Masset-Depasse, Mothers’ Instinct (Duelles) is a chilling psychological thriller wrapped in vintage elegance, exploring the destructive power of grief, maternal love, and suspicion. Set in 1960s suburban Belgium, the film evokes the polished domestic aesthetics of Alfred Hitchcock and Douglas Sirk, while delving into the raw emotional undercurrents of tragedy and obsession.
The story centers on Alice (Veerle Baetens) and Céline (Anne Coesens), two best friends, neighbors, and seemingly perfect housewives living in picturesque harmony. Their lives revolve around their husbands, beautiful homes, and most importantly, their young sons, Theo and Maxime—who are inseparable. But when a sudden, horrifying accident shatters their idyllic world, the bond between the women begins to unravel. Guilt, grief, and paranoia creep in, and what was once deep friendship curdles into quiet menace.
Baetens and Coesens give layered, powerhouse performances. Baetens, in particular, excels as the increasingly haunted Alice, whose maternal instincts become entangled with fear and suspicion. Her subtle emotional shifts—grief tightening into mistrust—are captivating to watch. Coesens’s Céline maintains an eerie, composed veneer that keeps the audience guessing: is she a grieving mother… or something more dangerous?
Masset-Depasse’s direction is precise and atmospheric. He uses tight compositions, 1960s color palettes, and retro costuming not just for visual pleasure, but to create a claustrophobic world where domestic perfection hides emotional turmoil. The pacing is deliberate, allowing suspense to build through glances, silences, and small acts of betrayal. Cinematographer Hichame Alaouié’s lens enhances the noir-like tension, giving each domestic space a stage-like quality—intimate and threatening.
While Mothers’ Instinct is a tale of motherhood, it is not sentimental. It examines the darker side of maternal devotion, where love turns possessive and fear corrodes judgment. It poses uncomfortable questions: How far would a mother go to protect her child? And at what point does love become delusion?
Elegant, harrowing, and ultimately devastating, Mothers’ Instinct is a gripping psychological study that lingers long after the credits roll. A must-watch for fans of Gone Girl, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, or The Others, it proves that beneath the sheen of domestic tranquility, something deeply unsettling may lurk.
