Welcome to “Is It Worth the High?”, where our writers see newly released movies, listen to the latest album drops, and try other experiences while high to determine whether they’re worth your time, money, and most importantly, your cannabis buzz. This week, Dante Jordan checks out the buzz (while buzzed) surrounding Darren Aronofsky’s mother! to see if this polarizing film is worth checking out.
Products Enjoyed: A blunt of the finest no-name herb. (It was definitely an indica, though. I was majorly sedated.)
High Experienced (1-10): 10. I smoked right before going to the theater, so my high peaked in the middle of the movie. Pro move.
Honestly, mother! is…so damn good! It’s the best movie I’ve seen all year—you know, one of those movies where you pay for the whole seat but you’ll only need the edge. The vibe is super creepy, and the whole time you’re just waiting for someone to get killed or something creepy to happen, but it keeps dragging you…and dragging you…and dragging you along until the last 30 minutes when ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.
Most of the critics said it was a wild ride, but that’s an understatement. It’s a rollercoaster. The movie took so many unexpected turns in times of maximum anxiety that I literally jumped out of my seat on multiple occasions. My entire body is still shaking as I’m typing this.
Is mother! entertaining? YES. Oh my goodness, yes. It’s a movie where you have absolutely no clue what’s going, but you know that every moment is critical to the core purpose of the film, so you keep walking down the storyline, just waiting for the reward, and BOY DOES IT PAY UP. If you’re stoned during this movie, it’s going to take your high to unforeseen levels. It’s so mind-blowing that I turned to the person next to me and said, “Wow, I’m so glad I got high for this.”
Not only is the movie itself entertaining, the actors in it are absolutely phenomenal. I was so ready to hate on Jennifer Lawrence, but if she wins an Oscar or something for this performance, I’ll be the first person clapping and screaming like a black mother at a high school graduation. I. Am. SO PROUD of her. And then Javier Bardem? Could we have cast his role any better? The answer is no. They were both perfect for this film.
So what’s the movie about? It’s hard to explain without spoiling the experience. Some may describe mother! as having a bit of a “twist,” but not in the traditional sense. There’s no Sixth Sense in-movie twist where you’re hit with a YOOOOO, I DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING moment. Rather, it’s an after-movie experience where you think about what you just saw and realize the entire meaning of it all. I’m not the most religious man, but I picked up on some strong religious allegory. Just go in with no expectations; shit, the whole movie was a twist I wasn’t ready for, and I was blown away by the result.
Would I see mother! again? I’m already planning to, son. I need to see it twice to catch all of those little things that I missed during my first viewings. Like I said, mother! is seriously the best movie I’ve seen all year. Anyone who’s trashing it can meet me in the front yard with a pair of Sock’em boppers on and we can handle our beef like the good ol’ days.
Is It Worth the High? Yes. Oh my God, yes. Go see it right now. Then see it again right after. It’s a masterpiece.
