Mothers' Instinct

In the film’s final moments, Theo is asked whether he is willing to accept Celine as his stepmother, and he replies affirmatively without hesitation. This choice reflects the heartbreaking reality that Theo, having lost both parents, feels he has no other options, and perhaps also feels an unspoken attachment to Celine, who has shown him a different kind of maternal care. As Celine takes Theo to the beach — a place he loves — she adopts a gentle, understanding facade, promising to help fill the void in his heart. Throughout the film, it becomes apparent that Celine’s obsession went beyond revenge; her true desire was simply to be a mother. Her grief over the loss of her own child drove her to manipulate events and people around her, ultimately leading her to commit terrible acts, including the murder of her friend Alice and her husband Simon. She poisoned them and tried to stage their deaths as suicides, all to eradicate those who stood in the way of her fulfilling her maternal longing. This dark obsession becomes most evident when she drugs Alice and Simon, and ultimately tries to kill Alice with chloroform, ensuring she can take over Theo’s life. In the end, Celine’s actions are motivated by her desperate need to recreate the maternal bond she lost, revealing a tragic and twisted interpretation of motherhood—one that blurs the line between love and madness. The film highlights how societal expectations and the overwhelming pressure to conform to traditional roles can corrupt a woman’s identity, turning her into a dangerous figure driven by grief and obsession. Ultimately, Theo’s acceptance signifies not just his acquiescence but also the tragic victory of Celine’s warped maternal instinct, leaving the audience with a haunting reflection on the destructive power of grief and the desperate lengths to which someone will go to fill the void of lost love.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44