Darren Aronofsky's new psychological thriller/horror/social commentary film mother! is something that exists in a cinematic world all its own. Not only is the film a roller coaster through allegory after allegory, but it is also a remarkably daring piece of art. I'll refrain from spoilers because I hate them for any film or show but, for "mother!", spoilers honestly completely defeat the purpose of watching them film.

When I decided I wanted to see the film, I did so solely because I'd watch anything Jennifer Lawrence is in. Maybe that's a cheap reason to watch something, but that's my reason. Then I saw the trailer and, as I love horror films (of quality) and psychological thrillers, I wanted to see it even more. Then I read an early, spoiler-free review that simplified the film into an "allegory about how artists will never love another person the way they love their work" and, boy, did they over-simplify. I'm slightly convinced that the author of that review slept through the bulk of the movie, but I hadn't seen it when I read their thoughts, so of course I wanted to see them film.

And now that I have, I can say I am both thrilled with what I've seen and disgusted with what I've seen, but in the best possible ways. mother! is a film that is beyond hard to talk or write about without giving away the entire plot, but it is also a film that (I think) everyone should see. Will everyone enjoy it? Absolutely not. Will some of you hate me for recommending it? Probably so. Will it provoke levels of thought and contemplation in you that you never knew you had? Yes.

mother! is not "fun" to watch. Most films this important aren't, and most films that truly have something to say most often say exactly what we don't want to hear. Aronofsky is known for mind-bending, gut-punching filmmaking and if you thought Requiem For a Dream was a trip, mother! has another thing coming. This film does and says things that leave you physically, mentally, and emotionally uncomfortable in your chair; it screams at you, it slaps you, and it condemns you; it contains one of, if not the, most taboo thing a filmmaker can do. And it does it all with no conviction.

Aronofsky made exactly the film he set out to make and he doesn't care who he offends, or who he upsets, in the process. To say mother! is a horror film almost does an injustice to the genre, and the film itself. It's not a horror film; it's horrifying. There is not a single jump-scare within the 121-minute runtime and there's no ominous music playing to cue your fear. In fact, there's no music at all. The real horror in mother! comes from what the film has to say, not what it has to show you (even though some of what you see in the last thirty minutes will be permanently burned into your mind's eye). mother! is layered and it's complex, yet its also blindingly obvious in the most perfect of ways. Its allegorical take on religion, the environment, and humanity is painfully honest, as well as painfully necessary. You either love it or you hate it; there is no middle ground. You won't be scared. You will leave this film thinking something. You will leave this film feeling. You will leave this film screaming. You will leave this film disgusted. And you will leave this film mentally exhausted, yet unable to think of anything else.

mother! is the single most horrifying, traumatizing, thought-provoking, self-aware, brilliant, and profound movie I have ever seen in my life. And I've seen a lot of movies. There were moments where my hands flew in the air, moments that left me breathless, moments that left me speechless, and moments I still can't fully process. This is a film that is worth seeing, discussing, and arguing about for years to come. You don't have to take my word for it; I want you to go see it. Think for yourself, hate me if you must, but go spend two hours horrified out of your mind. I, in what I imagine to be the minority, love the film. Go see it for yourself, think about it nonstop for a few days, and join me. Or don't. Either way you'll probably hate me.

Do with that what you will.