Naomi Watts to Star in ‘Goodnight Mommy’ Remake

Fans of the highly-acclaimed Austrian horror film Goodnight Mommy are either going to be excited or outraged at the news of an English-language remake of the film on the way from Amazon Studios. 

First reported by Variety, Matt Sobel (Take Me to the River) will be directing the remake from a script by Kyle Warren. The original film’s directors Severin Fiala and Veronika Franzare both on board as well as executive producers. 

The big draw here is the fact that Naomi Watts is set to star in the film, and executive produce. While Watts may not have the best track record as of late, her being on board along with Fiala and Franz producing does lend this remake an air of credibility that other English-language remakes don’t usually have. 

Will that lead to it being the rare good horror remake? Time will tell. 

Watts will star as the mother of twin boys who has undergone recent surgery, leading to her face being completely covered in bandages as she recovers. Erratic behavior from the mother stemming from her medication from the procedure leads the boys to suspect that their mother is an imposter, setting the stage for a psychological horror that plays with the viewer’s mind and their heart. 

In a statement alongside the news, Sobel shared his excitement, saying, “My favorite films are those that invite the audience to step inside their protagonist’s journey. In our re-imagining of Goodnight Mommy, fear of abandonment — and the dreadful realization that those close to us may not be who they seem — create an immersive nightmare, with visceral sensations front and center. I can’t wait to create this heart-stopping story with Amazon and the peerless Naomi Watts”.