Some movies you can prepare for, some you can't. The majority of mainstream type movies that target the wide audience, the summer blockbuster, are easy to get ready for. They may be big, brash, and entertaining, but they are not necessarily going to be challenging. Obviously, this is not always the case, but I think you know what I am saying. On the other hand, there are movies that challenge you, not necessarily intellectually, but your emotions, your sanity, perhaps even good taste. They leave you in a dark mood, perhaps disgusted, horrified, unsettled, even if you have seen it before. The movie I just saw is this latter type.
Do you ever watch a movie that has an impact on you, but you are not sure you quite understand why? Then, when you watch it a second time, things become clearer and the effect becomes that much more profound? That is the experience I had with Goodnight Mommy. I watched it, was engrossed by it, was creeped out by it, and was left wondering what I had just watched. Then I gave it a second pass and things cleared up. Yes, a lot is left to the imagination, it is not exactly heavy on the exposition, but therein lies the beauty.
