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Plot Summary

Discover the intricate plot of Goodnight Mommy (2015). From unexpected twists to emotional highs and lows, this detailed summary breaks down every moment to give you a deeper understanding of the film’s story.


After undergoing cosmetic facial surgery, a mother, portrayed by Susanne Wuest, returns to her sleek, isolated lakeside home, where she is greeted by her ten-year-old twins, Elias and Lukas, played by Elias and Lukas Schwarz. With her head wrapped in bandages, revealing only her eyes and mouth, her altered appearance deeply unsettles the boys. As her peculiar behavior becomes more pronounced, the twins find themselves increasingly disturbed. The mother neglects Lukas entirely while seemingly favoring Elias in their conversations.

Strangely, she compels them to keep the blinds drawn during the summer sun and imposes a strict silence inside the house, permitting only outdoor play. Her sudden cruelty shocks the boys as she harshly punishes Elias for minor mischief—behavior they find hard to reconcile with their once-loving mother.

As suspicion grows, the twins uncover an old photograph portraying their mother alongside an unfamiliar woman dressed in similar attire and possessing similar features. Their fear that the woman inhabiting their home might be an impostor escalates, prompting them to bind her to the bed and demand the whereabouts of their true mother. Despite her claims of being their real mom, the twins resort to sealing her mouth with tape to prevent her calls for help.

Simultaneously, two Red Cross workers arrive to collect donations, initially waiting for the mother’s return. However, they leave after Elias discreetly hands over a significant sum of money, which he pilfered from his mother’s purse. In a desperate attempt, the woman manages to break free from the tape and screams for assistance, but it’s too late to catch the workers’ attention. The twins then use Super Glue to seal her lips, realizing soon after that this prevents her from eating, forcing them to use scissors to cut her lips open.

As the woman remains bound, an unfortunate accident occurs, leading to her momentary release. Seizing the opportunity, she seeks to overpower the twins to escape, but they have set a trap that causes her to fall and lose consciousness. When she regains her senses, she finds herself glued to the living room floor. In a drastic move to extract the truth about their mother, Elias resorts to burning the house down, pressing the woman to confess.

The plot takes a tragic turn as the mother reveals that Lukas died in an accident prior, a heartbreaking truth that she conveys to Elias. Tearfully, she reassures him that he was not to blame for Lukas’s death and implores him to release her, emphasizing their need to move past the tragedy. To prove her identity, Elias challenges her to tell them about Lukas’s current condition. However, as she is unable to perceive the imagined Lukas, Elias becomes convinced that she isn’t their mother. In a fit of anger, he ignites a curtain, leading to a devastating outcome where the mother is engulfed in flames and succumbs before the firefighters arrive.

The film concludes with a poignant, ghostly scene of the mother reunited with her twin sons amidst the serene backdrop of a cornfield, signifying their eternal bond.

Timeline

Track the key events of Goodnight Mommy (2015) with a comprehensive timeline. Perfect for understanding the sequence of major plot points, this feature offers clarity on how the story unfolds.


Post-Surgery Return

After undergoing cosmetic facial surgery, the mother returns to her isolated lakeside home. Wrapped in bandages that obscure most of her face, her altered appearance unsettles her ten-year-old twins, Elias and Lukas.

Lakeside Home

Twins' Distress

The twins notice their mother's peculiar behavior, which increasingly disturbs them. As she neglects Lukas and favors Elias, the bond between the family begins to unravel.

Lakeside Home

Imposed Silence

The mother compels the twins to keep the blinds drawn during summer days and enforces a strict silence inside the house. Only permitted to play outdoors, the boys struggle with the oppressive atmosphere.

Lakeside Home

Harsh Punishments

Shockingly, the mother punishes Elias for minor misbehavior, a stark contrast to her previous nurturing demeanor. This sudden cruelty deepens the twins' confusion and fear.

Lakeside Home

Suspicion Grows

The twins discover an old photograph of their mother alongside an unfamiliar woman with similar features. Their suspicion mounts as they fear that the person in their home may not be their true mother.

Lakeside Home

Capturing the Impostor

In a desperate act, the twins bind the woman to the bed and demand to know the whereabouts of their real mother. Despite her protests of being their true mom, they seal her mouth with tape to silence her.

Lakeside Home

Red Cross Workers Arrive

Two Red Cross workers come to collect donations from the family. When Elias discreetly hands over money he took from his mother's purse, the workers leave, unaware of the chaos inside the house.

Lakeside Home

Failed Escape

The woman breaks free from the tape and screams for help, but it's too late as the Red Cross workers have already departed. The twins then use Super Glue to seal her lips, complicating her situation further.

Lakeside Home

Accidental Release

An unfortunate accident allows the woman a momentary chance to escape. However, the twins have set a trap which results in her falling and losing consciousness before she can get away.

Lakeside Home

Dire Confession

When the woman regains her senses, she finds herself glued to the floor. In a desperate attempt to prove her identity, she reveals that Lukas died in an accident, a heartbreaking revelation for Elias.

Lakeside Home

Elias's Anguish

The mother reassures Elias that he wasn't to blame for Lukas's death, urging him to let go of the tragedy. However, when she fails to describe Lukas’s condition accurately, Elias becomes convinced she is not their mother.

Lakeside Home

Tragic Fire

In a fit of rage, Elias lights a curtain on fire, leading to a horrendous accident. As flames engulf the mother, she succumbs before the firefighters can arrive, leaving a chilling silence behind.

Lakeside Home

Eternal Reunion

The film concludes with a poignant scene where the ghostly figures of the mother and her twin sons reunite in a serene cornfield. This moment signifies their eternal bond, transcending the tragedy of their past.

Cornfield

Characters

Meet the characters that bring Goodnight Mommy (2015) to life. Dive into detailed profiles of the cast and their roles, exploring their motivations, relationships, and arcs within the story.


Mother (Susanne Wuest)

The mother returns home after cosmetic surgery, resulting in her appearance being a source of fear and confusion for her twins. Her strange behavior and emotional distance create a chilling atmosphere, prompting the twins to question her identity. As events escalate, her vulnerability and tragic backstory are revealed, showcasing the pain of loss and the complexities of motherhood.

🌪️ Trauma 💔 Motherhood

Elias (Elias Schwarz)

Elias, one of the twins, exhibits a mix of love and suspicion towards his transformed mother. His deep connection to his brother, Lukas, drives him to uncover the truth, showcasing his courage and determination. As the climax unfolds, Elias struggles with guilt and the realization of his actions, leading to a heartbreaking choice that alters his life forever.

⚔️ Courage 😢 Grief

Lukas (Lukas Schwarz)

Lukas, the other twin, serves as a poignant reminder of loss throughout the story. His absence weighs heavily on Elias and their mother, adding layers of tragedy to their interactions. Though not physically present, Lukas's memory influences the emotional arcs of both the twins and their mother, illustrating the profound impact of grief.

👻 Memory 🌈 Loss

Setting

Uncover the settings of Goodnight Mommy (2015), from iconic locations to the time period that shapes its world. See how these elements add depth and context to the movie’s narrative.


Time period

The events of the movie unfold in a contemporary setting, likely during the summer months, as indicated by the behavior of the twins and the requirement to keep the blinds drawn. The current time period is reflected in the modern household, highlighting themes of isolation and psychological distress.

Location

Lakeside Home, Cornfield

The movie takes place in a sleek, isolated lakeside home, which serves as a stark and unsettling backdrop for the unfolding drama. This modern, yet eerie setting enhances the sense of isolation and tension between the mother and her twins. The tranquil cornfield at the conclusion symbolizes the eternal bond between the family, offering a haunting contrast to the previous turmoil.

🏡 Home 🌽 Nature

Themes

Explore the core themes of Goodnight Mommy (2015). From its commentary on social issues to its emotional undertones, delve into the deeper messages woven into the film’s story.


😱

Identity Crisis

The film delves into themes of identity and the psychological impact of trauma on familial relationships. The twins' struggle to reconcile their mother's altered appearance with their memories emphasizes the fragility of human connections. As they seek the truth, the narrative explores the darkness that can arise from love, fear, and deception.

🔥

Desperation

Desperation permeates the story as Elias goes to extreme lengths to uncover the truth about his mother. The lengths he is willing to go to, including setting fire to their home, illustrate the intense emotional turmoil stemming from loss and suspicion. This tragic search for identity and truth leads to devastating consequences.

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