When their planned Blade reboot failed to come to fruition, director Bassam Tariq (Mogul Mowgli) and actor Mahershala Ali (Green Book) turned their attention to something entirely different, resulting in Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. Ali stars as Latif, a devout Muslim and hitman whose life is turned upside down when his wife dies, leaving him to care for their three children whilst questioning the choices that have brought him to this point. Blending brutal action with an thematically rich story about faith, family and the struggle to do the right thing, Tariq’s latest is a unique take on the action thriller. With a phenomenal central performance from Ali, a slick visual style and plenty of thought-provoking ideas, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is an addition to the genre that boasts flair, even if its narrative occasionally feels stretched beyond what it needs to be.
Mahershala Ali is unsurprisingly well suited to this material, delivering a performance that balances urgency and grit during the action sequences with plenty of heart in the quieter moments. As a struggling dad who is simply trying to get breast milk for his baby daughter, his love for his children comes across in droves, making it easy to root for him despite his questionable decision making. His determination to do right by his family is always present, adding an emotional layer to the story that helps it stand out from your typical action thriller. Perhaps even better than Ali’s already impressive turn is Adia’s (Full Circle) debut feature film performance as his eldest daughter, Fatiha. She more than holds her own against her seasoned co-star, balancing the youthful energy of a teenager with the responsibility of being the eldest sibling, particularly when she’s left to look after the younger children when duty calls for her dad. John Cho (Searching) also makes for a solid villain, even if his character can be a little cartoonish at times, whilst Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad) makes good use of his limited screen time. It’s a strong ensemble overall, with the cast bringing plenty of heart to a film that could easily have relied on its action alone.
Speaking of action, the fight sequences are choreographed superbly well, offering something a little different from your usual genre fare. They’re intense and don’t shy away from violence, delivering the kind of bloody, brutal thrills that action fans will be looking for. Hand-to-hand combat is used to great effect, whilst the inclusion of swords takes things up another level. Ali’s sword training for Blade clearly hasn’t gone to waste, with the skills he picked up for the cancelled project put to good use here. What makes these sequences particularly effective, however, is the emotional investment in the characters. With Latif’s children waiting eagerly for his return, there’s a genuine sense of jeopardy throughout, and the family dynamic that anchors the film is consistently put at risk. That said, a few more action sequences along the way wouldn’t;t have gone amiss, whilst the final fight that forms the film’s climax is over a little too quickly. Still, what’s here is impressively executed, offering plenty of brutal thrills without losing sight of the emotional stakes.
Viewers might arrive for Mahershala Ali and the promise of some brutal action, but it’s the film’s thematic exploration that makes Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother so memorable. This isn’t simply a story about a guy taking out villains; it’s a complex, thought-provoking look at faith, family, grief and how to navigate life’s hardships when it seems as though God isn’t being particularly kind to you. Latif is struggling to come to terms with the loss of his wife whilst trying to raise their children, and the film explores how grief can challenge even the strongest of beliefs. There’s also an interesting contradiction at the heart of the story, with Latif being a devout Muslim who also happens to be a hitman, raising questions about religion, morality and what it means to do the right thing. The title itself highlights the importance of motherhood, something the film consistently reinforces through the family’s struggles following their loss, right down to Latif’s desperate search for breast milk for his daughter. Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother might be entertaining and brutal, but there’s plenty more going on beneath the surface, with its exploration of faith, grief and family offering plenty of food for thought.
Whilst Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother occasionally stretches its narrative a little further than necessary which gives it a repetitive nature at times, there’s plenty to admire about this unique action thriller. Ali and Adia deliver fantastic central performances, supported by a strong cast, whilst the slick filmmaking and superbly choreographed fight sequences make for an entertaining watch. That said, a few more action sequences wouldn’t have gone amiss, particularly given how well they’re executed, and the final showdown could have done with a little more time to make its mark. Still, it’s the film’s exploration of faith, grief and family that gives it real substance, raising some interesting questions that linger long after the credits roll. It’s an unconventional take on the genre that doesn’t always get the balance right, but there’s enough here to make it a worthwhile watch.
