Mother's Milk (2013) Poster

(2013)

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1/10
Don't be deceived..
troccopeters1929 December 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I have used this site many times to "safeguard" myself from renting a movie that is a complete waste of time based on others honest reviews/ratings. I read the basic premise and the reviews of this movie and was intrigued. This is the first review that i have ever made of any movie on this site or any other for that matter. I like to think those who take the time to review a movie and give their unbiased rating are being forthright, but i do not believe that to be true in this case.

As soon as i finished the movie i made my account on this site and felt obligated to give my review. It was absolute garbage (for lack of a better term) from start to finish! No spoilers here just straight talk. It was a 3 day rental and i ended up returning it the same night i rented it!
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1/10
wtf?!!!!
sukkisandhu25 January 2015
All of the exaggerated over the top nonsense reviews of this film made me laugh...

These people must have worked on or know the people who were responsible for making this "thing" as i cant see any other reason for such high ratings.

I made my account to do my very own honest and real reviews after reading so many idiotic reviews on terrible movies over and over on this site.

Do not waste your time with this movie, the simplest and quickest way to sum it up in one word is (Rubbish)

End of
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2/10
Deceitful reviews
nicolledetruittout13 June 2019
I honestly never write bad reviews, unless I absolutely feel like the movie deserves it. I might as well start with the good: Curiosity got me hooked until the end, as I expected some crazy twist that might redeem the overall quality of the movie. I was let down completely with an "open to interpretations" end, however it was not the ending that disappointed me the most. The story itself is original and worth a try, but the quality of the cinematography, editing, acting and directing really fail to do it justice. The acting clearly fails from the script on, and while we might be able to feel connected to the characters in some way or another, their choice of words and actions often make them seem like robots. And the special effects where lousy even for an indie low budget film. It's not a fantastic movie, it's not even good, but it might have flown under the radar had It not been for all these ridiculous reviews left on its IMDB page.

However, if you take it as what it truly is, a bad movie, and try not to take it too seriously, you might actually enjoy the experience of sitting through all the inconsistencies.
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8/10
And now for something COMPLETELY different
TESSjames11123 January 2015
One wonders (worries) how someone comes up with these things! I wish I could narrow down the reasoning behind my streaming this film from a vast array of titles. I am not a scary movie person - and my favorite films don't have much in common with this dark little film. However, it was inexpensive on iTunes and listed as a drama even though it looked like a horror.

I am big on searching out films that I have never heard of however. And there were some real surprises included in this unique and disturbing film.

First of all - although it only runs an hour and a half, its quite the ordeal. Its one of those films that doesn't take up much of your time, but it feels like it takes up a ton of your time. That comes from a mixture of it being pretty slow-paced at times, and also because the tension ratchets up and up and UP throughout the film. By the end I had to fight the nerve to get up and walk out and to put my hand down from my mouth because I had chewed off my fingernails.

It's a slow build - but it does have a pay off.

I will say I did NOT care for the end of the film, however I will give the screenwriter credit for the fact that it took a turn that I never saw coming.

This writer/director, Edward Pionke, I must believe is a somewhat disturbed man to have created such a realistic and often brutal film about love and entrapment. It is very well written and I would be interested to see where else he could go as a filmmaker, as it looks like he has more films coming down the pike.

The acting is on point as well. Although I feel the film could have really challenged its audience by eliminating all of the side-characters who do nothing to forward the plot anyhow and just have two characters (like Van Sant's "Gerry"). I feel that is the approach the characters (and actors) needed to really have pushed this over the edge. However I think you would be hard pressed to find acting this good in a movie with a budget this small (I can only guess). The lead Casey Chapman gives one of the most unique and odd yet thrilling and exciting performances I've seen in a while. Mackenzie Wiglesworth forms a perfect pair, and the chemistry they share on screen is pretty special.

There is a scene or two however that are so over-the-top that almost ruin the film. One is pure pornography and the other involves on screen vomiting in a way that you have never seen before and hopefully will never see again. This was simply not needed, as neither scene pushed the story forward in any way.

It's a movie I recommend with trepidation. I enjoyed it surprisingly so, but I could see people really not liking it. To each their own I say. In the end I think its the work of a talented writer/director who seems to be interested in making a different kind of movie, and that I can admire.
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9/10
Got Milk? Hope Not!
rosefauster4 February 2014
I like "smart" horror films – and I got one.

Mother's Milk is about the psychological unraveling of a deeply troubled teacher (Claude,) who fights personal demons that he's no match for.

Claude is a character study in "quiet/mild-mannered" meets "savage brutality" (with a little bit of Anthony Hopkins-esque "sexy" thrown in). A young woman (Mackenzie Wiglesworth as Kim Rodgers) is abducted by Claude early in the film. Despite the odds (I think only "Beauty" ended up with "The Beast") – you hope somehow love will conquer all.

In my favorite scene, Claude becomes a petulant five-year old when a dish he serves isn't embraced by his captive. A war of wills ensues, and oddly - you find yourself somehow championing Claude's culinary dictatorship. Here the director is absolutely skilled in capturing the right balance of tension and comic relief in the tug-of-wills between Claude and Kim.

But what anchors the terror of the story - is an at first quiet, then frenetic build to a horrifying scene which I still can't get out of my head (no spoiler alert here – you've got to see it to appreciate this level of "disturbing"). I couldn't look, but I couldn't look away.
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9/10
True Indie Cinema at it's best
jconyers111115 August 2013
I was able to catch a screening of Mother's Milk recently and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The subject matter seems rather dark. It revolves around a lonely man who has a dark fetish for breast milk who kidnaps women. Although that may sound off-putting, don't fear. This isn't your typical horror or torture film at all. In fact, I would say this is a love story. At its core its about two desperate people who find themselves forced to connect with one another. I saw that it was about to hit the festival circuit and I hope that more people will be able to view the film, as it could really be a hidden indie gem.

The writer/director, Edward Pionke, really shows promise bringing a fresh and new type of film I hadn't seen before, and the cast was equally as strong. The two leads were fantastic as well (Casey Chapman and Mackenzie Wiglesworth). I would recommend this film to you if you enjoy character studies, and dark films. It can be rather slow moving, but I think that is intentional. Although it can take a while, I was pretty much hooked halfway through and wouldn't spoil the ending for you. So if you get a chance to see it, I say go.
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9/10
Sympathy for the Devil
CRixor197224 March 2015
Rented this unknown film last night suffering from yet another night of insomnia. This is the story of a man who keeps a woman chained in his basement for the sole purpose of using her lactating breasts to feed his fetish. Sounds like pretty family far huh? I jest.

Well the problem is, she is not lactating, and he made a mistake. When capturing her she was jogging along with her sisters child and he is left not knowing what to do with his new victim.

What follows could be described as a cat and mouse game between two lost souls. One a man scarred from childhood and the other a college graduate facing real life problems and that dreaded "what next" phase. This material has been covered similarly in other films (the more recent "Chained" has many similar moments) however it's never really been handled this way.

Its a quiet film. One that may be overlooked by some based on its slow movement. The director doesn't seemed interested in making any bold statements or showing off for an audience. Here is a movie that basically takes place in one room between two characters. There's no real outlandish violence, no one scene that could be considered the ultimate climax - yet there is a sense of overwhelming dread the entire run time.

It's an uneasy experience for sure. Due to the performance of the lead actor, Casey Chapman, the biggest sense of unease is that you have sympathy for his character throughout. His is a performance like many of the classic movie villains (Norman Bates really comes to mind). Like Anthony Perkins, Chapman has created a character that all at once you feel sorry for and are scared by. He is tender, personable, pleasant, attractive, yet all at once someone you would not want to be alone in a room with. If anything at all ties the film together and makes it a must-see it's this leading performance.

It does take some twists and turns I didn't expect, and it showcases solid direction from a new director. I would highly recommend it.
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10/10
Not what you think
TimTryon8624 September 2013
I saw "Mother's Milk" at the North West Ohio Film Festival last week. After reading about the film I thought I was going to see a horror film of the likes of "hostel" or something, about a psycho torturing a woman. Boy was I wrong. This was an eerie yet almost beautiful film with 2 mind blowing central performances.

It's the story of a disturbed man who captures women to observe his fetish of breast feeding. Sounds pretty rough huh? Well after about 15 minute you settle into the feel of the film. It is at times uncomfortable but when you think it's going to go one way - it veers the other way. The central performance of Claude is the reason the film works. There are times during the film where you actually feel for his character. The actor Casey Chapman humanizes the role, pretty remarkable performance. And he is matched by Mackenzie Wiggelsworth who is also fantastic as the woman he kidnaps.

After listening to the director and actors at the Q&A I will be keeping my eye out for this film. I think it could hit it big. See if you can.
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9/10
Psycho Vs. Himself
lauragynco15 October 2013
I saw "Mothers Milk" last week via the SoCal film festival. I really knew nothing about it going in, as it was a part of a ticket package I bought. I decided last minute to watch it, as I had time to kill - and I am glad I made the move. The story is pretty disturbing. It's about a man named Claude who kidnaps women and traps them in his basement in order to fill his childhood fetish.

The movie basically takes place in one room. I could see some people thinking the movie is a bit slow moving, but there is a big payoff. It's really all about the actor who plays Claude (Casey Chapman). This is a performance that could hold up with anything being buzzed about currently for awards this season. He takes a character that is so disturbing, so disgusting, and so unlikeable and makes him sympathetic. There are points in the movie where I caught myself disagreeing with his victim at points, which shocked me as a woman.

Glad that I attend smaller festivals, as you can find hidden gems like this that are just as good (if not better) than what you will see in one of the bigger festivals in the US. I will keep my eye out for films from this writer and director (Edward Pionke) as well.
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9/10
A Trip To The Dark Side
kyleumber15 January 2015
The debut film of director Edward Pionke is a trip to the dark side for the viewer. As with many direct to streaming services release, this one again falls victim of misleading a careless cover art. What we are lead to believe is we are about to see a horror film, and this is quite simply not what were given. The only reason I cannot rank this film a perfect 10 is because of the misleading cover art and synopsis. The tag line "family is forever" is a bit more fitting, however what we have here is a glimpse into the mind of a truly disturbed man - not a horror film to please the fans of the Saw franchise or the Hostel franchise. If that's what you're looking for, stray away.

We meet Claude, a professor who seems to live a solitary and lonely life. Early on we find out that he holds a woman captive in the basement of his modest home, we are unsure why. As the film dives down the rabbit hole we learn that he deals with issues from being raised by a mother who perhaps drank too much and perhaps nursed too long. Due to an unfortunate accident, Claude is left a broken and disturbed man.

The film takes place mainly in one room, the dank basement of Claude's house. And besides a few very minor side characters, the film circles around two characters, Claude and Kim. Kim is an attractive woman kidnapped under the wrong circumstances and forced to take the role of "mommy" to Claude.

There's no explosions, no high gore, no jump scares or BOO moments. This is a film that hinges upon the audiences ability to allow themselves to be locked in a room with a borderline psychopath and wonder what you would do in similar circumstances. Would you risk dying alone by fighting against your captor or would you get to know who this man is and find your own way out. In many ways the film is a cat and mouse thriller. It's very much Kim Vs. Claude. And as the film goes on it's very much Claude Vs. Claude.

There's not a lot of movie making like this out today. The film was probably dumped direct on video because a studio would be afraid of how to market the film, afraid there would be no audience for it. I cannot imagine that there was a big budget behind this however, so I wouldn't believe it would be hard to make back its budget, because it is a highly interesting film that could be marketed towards an art house crowd - I know they exist.

Besides featuring an interesting and fresh script and solid directing, it contains a performance that you just don't see even in mainstream films. The actor who plays Claude, Casey Chapman, does the unthinkable. Personally, although he does some unforgivable things, I was rooting for Claude. The actor has sympathized the devil. It's a remarkable performance.

With solid support from the co-lead Mackenzie Wiglesworth, Mother's Milk amounts to a solid art house film that's perfectly worth the price of a rental. Besides the weird marketing angle, this is a dark dark gem.
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8/10
Don't Sleep On This
AdamCyprus1158 January 2015
I came across this at the video store (yeah they still exist) and rented it sight unseen. It sounded interesting and looked pretty screwed up due to the title and the woman on the front of the box clawing to get out. As an avid horror fan, I figured it would be a little torture experimental film to pass a few hours.

I will admit as it started, I thought there was a chance I could fall asleep. It seemed as if nothing was happening after a pretty mysterious and exciting opening sequence where our leading man watches water boil and mysteriously seems to destroy a woman in his basement. But it's all done "behind closed doors" - offering a much classier experience than the DVD cover alluded too.

After that though, it seems to plod along. There is a scene at our lead professors classroom, he plays cards with a friend, were introduced to our lead female, she is kidnapped. It all seemed pretty run of the mill after the exciting beginning.

If I am being honest, I almost turned the film off wondering where it would go from here - it just wasn't holding my attention. Well I am so very pleased I did not. After about the 30/45 minute mark I was hooked. Not to a horror film, but to a truly sad character piece. If there is any reason to watch this film (and there are more than one) its the leading performance. I have never heard of Casey Chapman before, but I cannot imagine not hearing about him again. This is the kind of performance an actor would die for with so much material to sink his/her teeth into.

So go into this film looking for a killer leading performance, not so much a killer killing people off film. (This is NOT to say this film isn't disturbing .. it is. Perhaps more-so than the type of film I thought I was getting into)

I would recommend the film to those who enjoy something a little darker, a little quieter.
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10/10
Claude has serious Mommy and guilt issues that he tries to resolve in a rather shocking and surprising way
britarooneysype17 December 2014
ABSOLUTELY loved this Indie flick. While the storyline was disturbing, the acting was incredible. I found the characters to be soooo very believable and completely unpredictable. So many twists and turns both within the storyline and within the characters themselves. I love a story that actually allows me to sympathize with the villain as well as the victim and that is exactly what I did. The scenery used in this movie was just perfect. Exactly what I would picture given the circumstances. I also found the placement of the flashbacks to be highly effective and allows the viewer to sort it out on their own and draw their own conclusions. I would HIGHLY recommend this movie to anyone and everyone who enjoys a psychological thriller. You will feel the tension. You may also never eat liver again.
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10/10
The creepy you WANNA watch...
alexpolcyn14 August 2013
I didn't know what expect when I entered this movie, the name alone alluded to something I don't want to think about. However, I was enthralled from the very first shot.

GREAT performances, GREAT direction with a Hitchcock horror/suspense vibe. It stayed with me for days... even when I didn't want it to.

I was lucky to catch this film at a private screening and I hope to god it gets distributed so more people can see this original piece, if you stumble across it check it out... you won't be disappointed.

It's unbelievable and awe-inspiring that many of the cast and crew are new to the game, bravo to all.
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9/10
Performances worth noting
mb628513 August 2013
I was lucky to attend a private screening of this film in Chicago. If you are fortunate enough to get a similar opportunity I would highly recommend that you take it! I'm not a huge fan of the horror genre, but I love a suspenseful thriller, which is exactly what Mother's Milk is. I left the theater unable to get some of the imagery out of my mind. Weeks later I was still thinking about it! The performances were sincere and cutting. The lead actor had a real challenge playing a character that was outwardly normal and internally wicked. I thought he found that juxtaposition brilliantly. He was as handsome and sinister as Kevin Spacey in Seven.
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