Saagar Kote
Written and directed by David Lowery, ‘Mother Mary’ is a psychological drama-thriller film that centers on Mother Mary (Anne Hathaway), a global pop star who withdraws from music after facing personal and creative turmoil. Seeking a return to the spotlight, she starts preparing for a new tour built around a major opening performance. As the event nears, she thinks the chosen costume fails to reflect who she is. She then reaches out to Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel), an acclaimed designer who once shared a close bond with her before fame changed their lives.
They meet at a secluded home in the English countryside, where unresolved tensions and past wounds emerge. As Sam agrees to help, their reunion shifts into a disturbing psychological battle shaped by control, identity, and power. With Mary’s image and future at stake, she may have to come to terms with who she really is and confront the retributive spirit that Sam brings to the equation. You may enjoy this list of movies similar to ‘Mother Mary’ that delve into deeply puzzling portrayals of identity, human fragility, memory, and emotional connection.
8. Maps to the Stars (2014)
Helmed by David Cronenberg, ‘Maps to the Stars’ delves into the dark side of fame through the experiences of the influential Weiss family in Hollywood. The family patriarch is celebrity psychotherapist Dr. Stafford Weiss (John Cusack), whose wife is Christina (Olivia Williams). Their troubled teenage son, Benjie, is a successful actor but has recently finished a stint in rehab. The black comedy movie intensifies when the aging actress Havana Segrand (Julianne Moore), a client of Stafford’s who is desperately seeking a lead role, hires the mysterious Agatha Weiss (Mia Wasikowska) as her personal assistant. Agatha’s arrival in Hollywood and her connection to Havana profoundly impact the lives of everyone she encounters, particularly the already volatile Weiss family. Akin to ‘Mother Mary,’ the narrative sheds light on celebrity culture, the struggles of artists, and complex relationships in the shadow of fame.
7. Queen of Earth (2015)
‘Queen of Earth’ is a psychological thriller film about the troubled friendship between Catherine Hewitt (Elisabeth Moss) and Virginia Lowell (Katherine Waterston). Seeking comfort after the death of her father and the end of a relationship, Catherine joins Virginia for a stay at a secluded lake house where the two once shared happier times. However, emotional wounds and growing instability place heavy strain on their bond. As old resentments resurface, the balance of their friendship begins to shift, and a man’s presence deepens the tension. The women are drawn into a disturbing emotional conflict that threatens to destroy their relationship entirely. Written and directed by Alex Ross Perry, the narrative’s depiction of the psychological tension between Catherine and Virginia is spiritually related to the conflicts and experiences of Mary and Sam in ‘Mother Mary.’
6. Mulholland Drive (2001)
‘Mulholland Drive’ is set in LA and picks up with a car crash on Mulholland Drive. An amnesiac woman known only as Rita (Laura Elena Harring) survives the crash and hides in an empty apartment. She is soon discovered by Betty Elms (Naomi Watts), an optimistic aspiring actress who has arrived in Hollywood with big dreams. Determined to help, Betty joins Rita in uncovering the latter’s identity, but their search leads them to disturbing discoveries. At the same time, a filmmaker named Adam Kesher (Justin Theroux) faces chaos in his career as mysterious forces pressure him to cast an actress of their choosing.
As these separate lives begin to intersect, reality gradually gives way to unsettling and surreal revelations that lead to more questions than answers. Often considered a modern-day masterpiece, the mystery film is written and directed by David Lynch. The surreal visuals and the film’s haunting images, along with its gender themes and the dynamics between Rita and Betty, connect it to the world and characters of ‘Mother Mary.’
5. Vox Lux (2018)
Written and directed by Brady Corbet, ‘Vox Lux’ is a musical drama film that chronicles Celeste’s (Natalie Portman) journey over eighteen years. After surviving a violent national tragedy as a teenager, Celeste gains public attention when she performs at a memorial service. With support from her songwriter sister, Eleanor (Stacy Martin), and a determined manager (Jude Law), she quickly becomes a major pop sensation. As her fame grows, her loss of innocence unfolds alongside turbulent national events, turning her into a symbol of modern celebrity life. Years later, Celeste attempts a comeback after a scandal damages her career, even as she struggles with family pressures and the demands of superstardom. Celeste, much like Mary in ‘Mother Mary,’ deals with the pressures of being an accomplished artist, while also hoping to earn redemption at any cost.
4. Persona (1966)
‘Persona’ explores the experiences between a famous actress, Elisabet Vogler (Liv Ullmann), and her assigned nurse, Alma (Bibi Andersson). Elisabet, during a performance, inexplicably becomes mute, and medical tests reveal no physical cause. Alma, who believes that Elisabet’s silence is a deliberate act, is tasked with her care. They are relocated to a remote seaside home. In the isolated setting, Alma attempts to break the silence by openly confessing details of her personal life to Elisabet, who remains unresponsive.
As this one-sided communication continues and their isolation intensifies, the initial dynamic of admiration shifts into a troubling psychological entanglement. Alma begins to experience her own unsettling transformation as the boundaries between the two women blur, and something darker seems to take shape. Written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, the Swedish psychological drama film is thematically related to ‘Mother Mary’ due to its focus on the dynamics between two complex female characters, a sense of psychological dread, and unique visual elements.
3. Opening Night (1977)
‘Opening Night’ deals with the struggles of celebrated actress Myrtle Gordon (Gena Rowlands) during final rehearsals for a major play. Myrtle’s increasingly unstable behavior creates tension for everyone involved, including her former lover and co-star Maurice Aarons (John Cassavetes). She insists she cannot connect with a character confronting the loss of youth, while privately refusing to face her own aging. Her heavy drinking deepens the turmoil.
After witnessing the accidental death of an admiring teenage fan, Myrtle begins seeing disturbing visions of the girl, pushing her further into emotional and psychological crisis. To make the play successful, she must make tough decisions that may be the difference between glory and infamy. Written and directed by John Cassavetes, the psychological drama film is a wild ride. Akin to ‘Mother Mary,’ it talks about the sacrifices necessary for greatness on the stage, while also exploring psychological ups and downs that accompany fame and success.
2. Black Swan (2010)
‘Black Swan’ follows the tumultuous journey of Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), a dedicated ballerina striving for excellence. Ballet director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) selects her to embody both the “Black Swan” and “White Swan” in the upcoming ballet rendition of “Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.” As Nina relentlessly pursues perfection in her performance, she begins to experience unsettling, surreal events that increasingly dissolve the boundary between her inner world and objective reality.
With Nina’s commitment to perfection pushing her to punish her body and mind without limits, she delves deeper into the moral conundrums of the stage and what it means to be a ballerina. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, the psychological horror thriller film is a poignant navigation of dedication. Much like ‘Mother Mary,’ it sheds light on the various challenges an artist faces to earn a spot on stage, while also handling expectations, psychological challenges, and the female experience as a whole.
1. Clouds of Sils Maria (2014)
Written and directed by Olivier Assayas, ‘Clouds of Sils Maria’ is a French-German-Swiss psychological drama film that centers on acclaimed actress Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche). Two decades after achieving fame in Wilhelm Melchior’s play “Maloja Snake,” where she portrayed the young and manipulative Sigrid, Maria is asked to join a revival of the same play by playing the older Helena, who is Sigrid’s lover. Maria is initially hesitant because of her divorce, painful memories, and the suicide of an actress. However, she changes her mind after Wilhelm’s sudden death. Retreating to Sils Maria in the Swiss Alps with her assistant Valentine (Kristen Stewart), she prepares for the demanding role.
Tensions grow when she must perform opposite rising young actress Jo-Ann Ellis (Chloë Grace Moretz). As rehearsals continue, Maria is forced to confront aging, identity, ambition, and her shifting bond with Valentine. The narrative is closely connected to ‘Mother Mary’ due to its portrayal of fame, redemption, and the process of an artist finding her voice again. The two films also explore themes of gender, haunting visual elements, and the complex relationships between female characters.
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