Naomi Watts to lead Amazon Studios remake of Austrian psychological thriller Goodnight Mommy

Hollywood star Naomi Watts will topline the remake of Austrian psychological thriller Goodnight Mommy for Amazon Studios. The English-language remake will be helmed by Take Me To The River director Matt Sobel, as per Variety. Kyle Warren penned the script for the film, which will be produced by David Kaplan, Joshua Astrachan, Valery Guibal and Nicolas Brigaud-Robert. The original movie had attained the status of cult classic when it released in 2014. It was later selected as the Austrian entry for best foreign language film at the Academy Awards. Starring Susanne Wuest in the lead, the story follows twin brothers who, when sent to stay with their mother, are surprised to find her swathed in bandages from a recent procedure. As her behaviour grows increasingly erratic and unusual, the twins become convinced she is an imposter. Their suspicion sets off a roller-coaster of emotional mind games and misunderstandings between mother and her children, that eventually explodes with irreparable and heartbreaking consequences. “My favourite 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 realisation that those close to us may not be who they seem — create an immersive nightmare, with visceral sensations front and centre,” Sobel said. Watts will also serve as an executive producer along with the original film’s directors Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz. Amazon is developing the film in collaboration with Animal Kingdom and production company Playtime. Watts, who most recently featured in Netflix movie Penguin Bloom, will next star in Lakewood and thriller Infinite Storm. (With inputs from Press Trust of India)