the perfect mother movie review

The Perfect Mother: here's the ending explained

The french crime thriller is proving popular with netflix fans.

French crime thriller The Perfect Mother is proving to be popular with Netflix fans and the four-part drama series is now sitting comfortably in the top ten trending shows.

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The show, which stars famous French actress Julie Gayet as the titular character, tells the intriguing story of a mother desperate to fight for her family.

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After her daughter, Anya, calls her up to tell her she's been accused of murder, Helene decides to take matters into her own hands to prove her daughter's innocence. If you've binged all four episodes and are wanting to know more about what went down at the end, keep reading to find out more. Warning! Major spoilers ahead…

What is Netflix's The Perfect Mother about?

Before we get into the ending, let's briefly recap what the show is about. Helene receives a huge shock when her daughter, who is studying in Paris, phones her to tell her she's been arrested after Damien Carnau, a wealthy heir to a cosmetics giant, is found murdered.

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The Perfect Mother is a French crime thriller on Netflix

Helene, perplexed that her daughter would be accused of such a crime, contacts an old flame named Vincent Duc, an esteemed lawyer, and the two set out to fight Anya's case. The four episodes feature many flashbacks to the fateful night in question – bringing up many gaps in Anya's story – leaving many to wonder whether Anya really is responsible for the murder.

What happens at the end of Netflix's The Perfect Mother?

Those who reached the end will know that Anya was much more involved in Damien's death than she first let on. Firstly, Anya had moved to Paris from Germany to get away from her previous life which saw her abused in a previous relationship. Secondly, she was not attending an in-person college, but instead working to help victims of abuse, and using her college dormitory to house those in need.

The four-part series is proving popular with viewers

Due to her traumatic past, and the fellow victims she came across through her work at a women's shelter, Anya becomes deeply and emotionally involved in the cases. One crucial moment which is revealed is when Anya and a friend, Julie, decided to get revenge on a professor who is a predator. The friend deliberately drugs herself and Anya plans to catch the perpetrator in his tracks while the two are alone.

After coming to learn of Damien, who is a known attacker, Anya plans to exact revenge on him using the same method. However, Anya finds herself taking part in the operation alone and at the hands of Damien's drug-fuelled rage, ends up being attacked by him.

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Eden Decourant plays Anya

Anya had been in what she considered a loving relationship with someone she met at one of the organisations called Kamal and it is he who Anya calls over to the apartment to save her. At this point, Kamal and Damien get in a fight and, in an act of self-defense, Anya picks up a knife and stabs Damien.

Before the truth comes out, Anya discovers, through her mother's investigation, that Kamal is in fact married with a child. Feeling betrayed, Anya tells the authorities that Kamal was involved in Damien's death – after previously not incriminating him – but this leads to him jumping off a bridge and taking his own life. The murder is then hung on him – leaving Anya to get away with stabbing Damien. 

As well as Anya, the show focuses on Helene and her striving to be the perfect mother, but being so worried about how she's perceived that she neglects what's really going on in her children's lives. It ends with her feeling torn about whether to follow her family – Anya and her new husband, Matthias – or her old flame, Vincent, with whom she had rekindled a spark.

Julia Gayet plays her mother, Helene

What are fans making of Netflix's The Perfect Mother?

Given the series is in the top ten trending shows on Netflix, it's no wonder that fans have been watching it in their droves, with many taking to Twitter to give their verdict. One wrote: "Just binged #ThePerfectMother on Netflix, it's so good! The main character played by Eden Ducourant reminds me of a French @sydney_sweeney."

A second said: "The Perfect Mother, riveting. #ThePerfectMother #Netflix," as a third added: "Loving the new Netflix series 'The Perfect Mother'. Even rich families are dysfunctional." A fourth simply tweeted: "The Perfect Mother on Netflix is insane!" 

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The Perfect Mother review: How perfect is the new Netflix series?

Netflix's new four-episode series, The Perfect Mother , dropped on May 3, 2022, revolving around a classic whodunnit mystery with several new elements to keep viewers hooked. The French -language drama opened with a thrilling premise and never really dropped the pace over its small but fulfilling run lasting four episodes.

The story deals with a desperate mother, Helene (played by the brilliant Julie Gayet), in her attempt to save her daughter, Anya (Eden Ducourant) from a murder case, which she apparently did not commit. In the process, she enlisted the help of her former lover, Vincent (Tomer Sisley). Though it sounds relatively simple, the series managed to take viewers across winding twists, making this one an exceptional watch.

Read on for a detailed review of The Perfect Mother.

The Perfect Mother review: Interesting revelations keep the boat afloat for the Frédéric Garson mini-series

The title, The Perfect Mother , is itself a subtle reference to the phrase, "The Perfect Murder." A case is called a perfect murder when the perpetrator gets away without any repercussions, and it seemingly happens in this episode. The murder is not, however, the most exciting part of this thrill ride, but it is the initial revelations that form the brilliant premise.

The Perfect Mother began with a disheveled-looking Anya walking back home. The story soon evolved into a full-blown drama when her parents found out that she was accused of murder. Helene's immediate maternal instinct was displayed in its full glory as she rushed to France and jumped in to defend her daughter.

This beautifully depicts how children are beyond logic and reasoning to parents. The first episode does enough to hook viewers as pieces of evidence slowly start creeping up, hinting at Anya as the perpetrator. Anya's stance is never in question, as the show made it pretty clear that she was lying from the very start.

However, her motives and the changing narratives were the real hooks in the episodes. Every version of her narration was more gripping than the previous, and it built up a certain tension that was hard to evade. Not a moment of the four episodes felt overbearing or slow. The constant pace, paired with the shaky camera and cleverly written dialogues, made it more appealing than most shows of this length.

Though the third episode did drop the pace in the first half, it made up for it in the final revelation in the end.

The whodunnit drama was good enough to hold viewers by itself, but the show did not stop there. It also introduced a layer of family drama, involving Helene's infidelity while working with her old lover and a buried secrets of Anya from her time back in Berlin.

By the final episode, the mystery of the murder is towering, with the introduction of new characters, secrets, and an intriguing plotline. The mystery seems to be resolved by the first half of the final episode, and that is where the final twist comes in: A whole new narrative of the night, and this time, it is not from Anya.

The show concludes with a mother's burden and a resolution that, though atypical, is a crucial part of the show's successful premise.

Is The Perfect Mother worth a weekend binge?

In the short span of time, the show managed to build and resolve a compelling mystery, making it a great watch. With technical perfection, a great plot, and some brilliant performances from the lead cast, this is an ideal weekend binge. The only problem with this one may be that it will end before you fully taste its cinematic brilliance. But there's always a scope to rewatch.

All four episodes of The Perfect Mother are now streaming on Netflix .

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The Perfect Mother Season 1 Review – An imperfect crime drama

Episode Guide

Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 -| Review Score –3/5

How well do you know your kids? If they kept a massive secret from you, would you know? It’s certainly an intriguing (and as a parent myself, very unnerving) question and something that encapsulates the entirety of The Perfect Mother’s story.

This four episode French thriller essentially blends soap opera shenanigans with a simple but effective murder mystery. At the forefront of this is Helene, who learns that her daughter Anya is the number 1 suspect in a high profile murder case. While Anya claims she didn’t kill Damien, all evidence seems to support that she did. At least to begin with.

When Helene team up with a lawyer (and old flame) Vincent, the pair work to piece together exactly what happened that fateful night. But can Helene handle the truth? And is her daughter as innocent as she first perceived?

This essentially forms the crux of The Perfect Mother, that spends much of its time rehashing and repeating events from the night of the murder, with slight variations and deviations from the initial statement along the way.

As little bits of evidence come in to corroborate or contradict what we know, The Perfect Mother actually does a really solid job keeping you guessing until the final episode. However, the show is not without its faults.

One of the biggest problems with The Perfect Mother comes from its focus. When the show actually centers on Helene and Anya, examining their relationship and piecing together Anya’s story, there’s some decent material here. However, all too often this series takes a detour through meandering subplots full of drawn out drama and dead-ends for the sake of padding the run-time.

There’s a whole love triangle subplot that feels shoehorned in, Anya’s brother Lukas has his own woes over in Berlin while there’s a separate thread involving a private investigator that leaves a lot to be desired. All of this adds up to a show that’s pretty rough around the edges, despite some initial promise.

There’s nothing particularly outstanding with the aesthetics either. The camera work is pretty standard, the visuals are pedestrian and the acting is pretty good but not exactly outstanding either. In fact, the best part of the visual design comes from the opening title credits which are absolutely gorgeous, blending faces with the Parisian skyline.

The ending is another point of contention too and while I won’t get into specifics here (we have our ending explained linked above for that!) suffice to say the true version of events is dragged out unnecessarily and I can’t help but feel this would have worked better with 3 episodes rather than 4.

Overall, The Perfect Mother is pretty imperfect. This meandering crime drama is in desperate need of tightening up and spends way too long on its subplots, time that could have been better served on the main plot. It’s not a bad show but it’s also not a particularly good one either. Instead this is an average effort across the board.

Read More: The Perfect Mother Ending Explained

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• Verdict - 5/10 5/10

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The perfect mother, une mère parfaite.

Convinced of her daughter's innocence in a homicide, a devoted mother soon uncovers unsettling truths as the line between victim and perpetrator blurs.

Julie Gayet Tomer Sisley Eden Ducourant Andreas Pietschmann Cyril Gueï Sylvain Dieuaide Maxim Driesen Emilia Nöth Hatik Inès Spiridonov

Producers Producers

Petra Wersch Iris Bucher Peter Nadermann

Original Writer Original Writer

Nina Darnton

Casting Casting

Stéphane Finot

Cinematography Cinematography

Virginie Saint-Martin

Assistant Directors Asst. Directors

Maëva Poli Olivier Vergès

Composer Composer

Pascal Lafa

Costume Design Costume Design

Anne-Sophie Gledhill

ZDF TF1 RTBF AT-Production Quad Drama Nadcon Film

Belgium Germany France

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‘The Perfect Mother’ Ending, Explained: Who Murdered Damien Carnau? How Did Anya Prove Her Innocence?

Netflix French drama-thriller series, “The Perfect Mother,” Season 1 revolves around Helene and her efforts to bring home her daughter, Anya, after being considered a prime suspect in a homicide case. Helene celebrates her birthday in Berlin with her husband, Matthias, and her son, Lukas. Meanwhile, Anya faces trouble in Paris and escapes from the mess that night. Helene waited for a birthday call from her daughter, but when Anya contacted her, she asked her mother to help her, convincing Helene that she was innocent and had no idea about the murder. “The Perfect Mother” manages to keep the audience guessing the truth till the very end. At times, Anya seems completely believable, but there are multiple loopholes that will make one question her story. The series also focuses on motherhood and how often the role of being a mother at times overpowers moral decisions.

‘The Perfect Mother’ Season 1: Plot Summary

Anya was taken into custody the moment she entered the police station. She had spent the night with the victim, Damien Carnau, making her an obvious suspect. Helene traveled to Paris to save her daughter, while her husband and Lukas stayed back. Anya explained to the police that she was not responsible for the death of Damien; it was his drug dealer who had murdered him. She had locked herself in the washroom when Damien and his dealer were arguing, and when she got out, she discovered the bloody scene and found Damien’s body. She left the house hastily, nervous that the dealer would be back. Even though the police had their doubts regarding Anya’s story, Helene trusted her daughter completely.

Since Anya was of legal age, Helene was advised to get a lawyer, and only then she could meet her daughter. She met with Vincent Duc, a prominent lawyer, and her ex-lover. She was with him when she lived in Paris and suddenly left the city without informing him. She met him after 25 years, asking him to help her bring Anya home. Vincent accepted the case and discussed with Anya her story. Even though Anya spoke about a drug dealer, the CCTV footage showed that no such entity had entered the building. This raised doubt in Vincent’s mind, but he soon figured that the man in question could have entered through the roof and left from the other exit. After checking the footage of the other exit, it was confirmed that a suspicious-looking man had indeed entered the building.

Therefore, Vincent provided the police with the evidence he collected, hoping for Anya’s release. The police wanted to wait for the DNA results from the apartment and the knife to confirm Anya’s innocence. However, the result indicated the opposite and questioned Anya’s truth. Her DNA was found on Damien’s body, fingernails, and the knife that was used to assassinate him. Anya’s bail was not granted, and she had to stay longer for further questioning.

Spoilers Ahead

How Did Anya Try To Prove Her Innocence? 

When Anya was questioned about her involvement in the homicide case, especially after her DNA was found on the victim’s body, she came up with a different version of the story. According to her new version, she was interested in Damien from the moment they saw each other in college. Damien was the son of an influential business family; he was to be the heir to the empire. On the night of the murder, Anya met Damien at a nightclub. They were both into each other and wanted to spend the night together, so they went to Damien’s place. After reaching his apartment, he snorted some cocaine. After taking the drugs, there was a change in his behavior, and he tried to overpower Anya. He forced himself upon her even though she had asked him to stop multiple times. He raped her, and Anya could not make it stop. After torturing her, he received a call from his drug dealer, and she used it as an opportunity to lock herself in the bathroom. After their argument and the silence that followed, Anya decided to leave. She noticed Damien lying on the floor and checked to see if he was still alive. She then caught hold of the knife, fearing that the dealer might strike her again. She then ran away from the apartment.

A rape kit was used to check if Anya was telling the truth. Drug tests were also conducted on Anya and Damien. Helene was completely broken after learning the truth. She felt as if she did not know her daughter; she had no idea about her life in Paris. Helene tried to protect Anya after all that she had to go through. When she went to collect Anya’s clothes from her room, she was informed that Anya was no longer staying there. She had given her room to a victim of domestic abuse and was staying at a shelter for abused women. After visiting the shelter, Helene learned that her daughter worked there as a counselor and had dropped out of college. Helene felt distant from Anya as her daughter never cared to inform her about the decisions she was making in her life. It was while checking her apartment that she found a picture of Anya with two of her friends, and one of them looked like the drug dealer from the CCTV footage. Vincent asked Helene to keep the picture away as that would raise suspicion and would not help her daughter’s case.

Though after the tests, it was confirmed that Anya was raped by Damien and that he had consumed drugs that night. She was given GHB, popular as a rape drug, confirming further how Damien had planned to rape Anya that night. The police could now trust Anya’s story, though they did not have the drug dealer at hand. Helene and Vincent tried to get hold of Damien’s drug dealer, but that left Vincent injured after a scuffle. The police later got hold of his dealer, Bash, who had a solid alibi to prove that he was not there with Damien that night.

‘The Perfect Mother’ Ending Explained: Who Was The Man Seen In The CCTV Footage? Who Killed Damien?

After Anya was provided with counseling, the police decided to let go of Anya even though she could not leave the city as the case was not closed yet. Anya was taken to her grandmother’s house in Paris. It was there that Anya and Helene had an honest conversation. Anya believed that her mother was so caught up in being the perfect mother that she did not realize how her children were suffering. They were always expected to be perfect, even when they were broken inside. Helene did not share a great relationship with her mother and wanted to be the perfect mother to her children, but somehow in the process of perfecting her role, she lost the trust of her children. Anya asked her mother to open her eyes, to look beyond her selfish needs. The world around her was suffering, and Anya wanted to help those she knew to ease their pain.

The character of Anya continued to be doubtful as she tried to contact an unknown number from her mother’s phone and asked that person to meet her. She also seemed to be problematic from the moment she showed interest in the money that a journalist was ready to provide her with for an interview. This raised doubt regarding the money and watch that were stolen from Damien on the night of the murder. Anya met a man wearing a baseball cap, and his hair was tied into a bun. He was the same guy from the CCTV footage. The reporter who was following the case closely snapped pictures of the two together. He sent the pictures to Damien’s mother, who advised him to send them to the police.

Anya tried to run away, knowing that she was in danger. Her mother caught hold of her and demanded to know the truth. Anya repeated her story for the third time, and this version was different from the rest. After Anya was raped, she locked herself in the bathroom and called Kamal for help. Kamal came in through the roof and helped Anya, but the two were caught by Damien, who tried to attack Kamal. Out of fear of getting killed, Kamal attacked him with the knife, and during their scuffle, Kamal mistakenly pushed the knife into Damien’s body, killing him. Anya explained that it was all an accident and was done out of self-defense. She wanted to keep Kamal away from the mess because he was undocumented, and a police case would ruin his life. Vincent encouraged Anya to confess the truth to the police since the whole act was out of self-defense, and they could figure out a way to help Kamal.

Meanwhile, Helene traced Kamal’s family, hoping to find him there, but what she learned instead was that he was married and had a child. Anya refused to believe it. She was in love with him, and they hoped to get married in the future. Anya decided to call Kamal and help the police locate him. After calling him and knowing his location, she informed him that she had told the entire truth to the police. He was soon surrounded by police; he knew that his life in Paris was over, and to stop the misery, he jumped off a bridge. Kamal was declared dead. The case was now resolved, and Anya would be completely free after appearing in front of a judge. Before the judgment was passed, Anya’s friend Julie contacted Vincent. She wanted him to know the truth after the death of Kamal. It was Anya who had planned it all. Anya was a rape victim, and she wanted to help those around her who suffered and needed help. She schemed to extract money from men who had previously raped or abused women, and she then gave that money to those who needed it. She had used Julie once to do the same, but Julie refused to participate any longer, and Anya went ahead with the plan alone. She used to consume GHB and threaten the men that she would accuse them of abuse or forced intimacy if they refused to pay. She intended to do the same with Damien, but the man would not accept defeat. He was an abusive man and had raped women previously. He did the same with Anya. To make him stop, she hit him with an object and later killed him with a knife. She called Kamal and gave him the money and a watch to help him with his financial condition.

Helene told Vincent the truth, but she asked him to defeat her daughter since it was his job to do so. Anya was free from the allegation and was declared innocent by the court. Even though Helene helped her daughter to be free, she could not trust her anymore. While Anya’s intention was right, her method was flawed. It was because of her that Kamal lost his life, and his wife and child had no one to take care of them. As Anya and Matthias left the court, Helene chose to not walk along with them. She stood between two choices now-one was her rekindled love for Vincent and a new life with him, and the other was to go back to Berlin with her family and work on the issues that they had. “The Perfect Mother” Season 1 ends with a sense of ambiguity. It was a choice for Helene to make whether or not she would continue with her pursuit of being the perfect mother or choose to make a choice solely for her happiness.

 “The Perfect Mother” is a 2022 French Thriller series streaming on Netflix.

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Is The Perfect Mother Based On a True Story?

Netflix’s ‘ The Perfect Mother ’ follows the story of a woman who discovers the dark and manipulative side of her daughter. It explores the implications of blind love for one’s children and how damaging such dedication can be. In four episodes, the show goes through a lot of twists and turns, and the shocking ending makes us wonder if such a thing could be possible in reality. Was Anya’s case pulled out from real life? Here’s all that we know about the origin of the Netflix series.

Is The Perfect Mother a True Story?

Netflix’s ‘The Perfect Mother’ is based on the book of the same name by Nina Darnton. It follows the story of Emma, an American exchange student in Spain, who is accused of killing a man. Emma’s mother, Jennifer, flies to Spain to bring her daughter back home. She is certain that Emma had nothing to do with this brutal crime. However, as she digs into the details, Jennifer discovers that her daughter is not the perfect girl she believed her to be.

The novel is inspired by the infamous Amanda Knox trial, though it focuses more on the intricacies of a parent’s relationship with their child. The book relies heavily on the emotional conflict faced by Jennifer, who slowly begins to doubt Emma’s innocence. The show makes a few changes, like setting the story in France and giving a different backstory to Emma. The book features Roberto Ortiz, a lawyer and private detective, who doesn’t have a prior connection to Jennifer. The show, however, creates a link between Helene and Vincent by giving them a romantic past. In the book, Emma’s boyfriend is a drug dealer, while in the show, Anya’s boyfriend is an illegal immigrant.

Darton admitted that she had been fascinated by Amanda Knox’s story, especially from the point of view of her mother. She explored that scenario in her head and imagined the worse that could come out of such a situation. Another thing she wanted to focus on was the pressure on women to be the perfect mothers. She wanted to explore the ramifications of such an image being thrust on women and how it could affect them and their children.

Who is Amanda Knox?

https://twitter.com/TodayFM_nz/status/1528248501960077312?cxt=HHwWgMDT_cv6trUqAAAA

Amanda Knox was 20 years old in 2007, when her flatmate, Meredith Kercher, was murdered in Perugia, Italy. The night of the murder, Knox had been with her boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito. The next morning, she returned to her flat to find blood in the bathroom and Kercher dead in her bedroom.

The case quickly caught media attention and soon, Knox became a prime suspect. After repeated rigorous interrogations, Knox implicated herself in the murder by admitting that she’d been at her apartment the night of the murder. However, she later disclosed that she was forced to make that statement by the cops who’d grossly mistreated her during the interrogation and had been hostile towards her since the beginning. Knox and Sollecito were convicted in the initial trial, and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Simultaneously, a man named Rudy Guede was arrested as well. His fingerprints were discovered at the crime scene. Later, he was found guilty and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

It wasn’t until Knox had spent almost four years in prison that her wrongful conviction was overturned. There were still some legal upheavals, but in 2015, the Italian Supreme Court of Cassation acquitted her of all charges, stating that she didn’t receive proper legal aid and that the evidence wasn’t enough to prove her guilty. By that time, however, Knox’s public image had suffered immensely. Before and during the trial, she was portrayed in an intensely negative light, with the media coming up with all sorts of monikers for her. She has, since, tried to shrug off the negativity.

Where is Amanda Knox Now?

Since her return to the States, Knox has tried to resume her life under the constant scrutiny of the paparazzi. She has been working as an activist, working with organizations such as The Innocence Project for the wrongfully accused. She has authored a bestseller book, ‘Waiting to Be Heard’. She hosts podcasts: The Truth About True Crime and Labyrinths , which she hosts with her husband, Christopher Robinson. She has also spoken out against her character assassination, as well as, about the films, TV shows, and books that profit off of her story. She recently talked about Matt Damon ’s ‘ Stillwater ’ in The Atlantic .

She was also not happy with the Netflix show, ‘ The Perfect Mother ’, calling it out for painting her as “manipulative and guilty of murder”.

It’s that time of year again! Without my consent, yet another entertainment product has been made that is “inspired by” my wrongful conviction, and as with #STILLWATER , this new TV series in France paints me as manipulative & guilty of murder. /🧵 https://t.co/h64jhQrDNX — Amanda Knox (@amandaknox) May 14, 2022

In 2021, Knox welcomed her daughter, Eureka, into the world, and talked with The New York Times in detail about her experience and how the wrongful conviction affected her.

Read More: Best True Crime Documentaries On Netflix

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The perfect mother.

• Common Sense Says
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Common Sense Media Review

Murder mystery thriller has violence, drugs, sexual content.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Perfect Mother is a French-German-Belgian mystery thriller that is available dubbed and subtitled in English. Murder and sexual violence are primary themes, and there are scenes of people being attacked, stabbed, and mortally injured (blood and bloody wounds are visible). Sexual…

Why Age 15+?

Murder and sexual violence are main themes. Punching, choking, fighting, etc. is

Words like "ass" and curses like "si-t" and "f--k" are audible.

Drinking (beer, wine, cocktails), vaping, and cocaine use. Drug dealing is discu

Sexual content includes flirtatious dancing, people partially undressing (no nud

Cars like Mercedes-Benz are visible, but the logos aren't obvious.

Any Positive Content?

Hélène is a loving and committed mother and wife, and believes in daughter Anya'

The series features characters who are French and German, many of whom speak bot

The murder mystery enters around a mother's faith in her daughter's innocence. T

Violence & Scariness

Murder and sexual violence are main themes. Punching, choking, fighting, etc. is visible. A knife is wielded. Blood and bloody wounds are visible. A bombing is discussed. A man is thrown from a high floor onto a car.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Drinking (beer, wine, cocktails), vaping, and cocaine use. Drug dealing is discussed, and someone is accused of drugging a woman with GHB (the date rape drug).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Sexual content includes flirtatious dancing, people partially undressing (no nudity), and making out as a precursor to sex. Some of this is used to vilify a woman. Infidelity is a theme.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Positive role models.

Hélène is a loving and committed mother and wife, and believes in daughter Anya's innocence until she's given reason not to. She and her mother have a very difficult relationship. Anya and her brother Lukas are very close.

Diverse Representations

The series features characters who are French and German, many of whom speak both languages. The lead investigator is Afro-French; there are secondary cast members from various ethnicities.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Positive Messages

The murder mystery enters around a mother's faith in her daughter's innocence. The love and support of family is a major theme.

Parents need to know that The Perfect Mother is a French-German-Belgian mystery thriller that is available dubbed and subtitled in English. Murder and sexual violence are primary themes, and there are scenes of people being attacked, stabbed, and mortally injured (blood and bloody wounds are visible). Sexual content includes flirtatious dancing, people partially undressing (no nudity), and making out as a precursor to sex. Cursing is audible, and vaping , drinking , and drug use is visible. GHB (the date rape drug) is discussed.

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say
• Kids say (2)

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Based on Nina Darnton's book of the same name, THE PERFECT MOTHER (aka Une mere parfaite ) is a dramatic thriller about a mother who's convinced her daughter is innocent of murder until she's confronted with her lies. When Anya Berg (Eden Ducourant) is accused of killing a young man in his own apartment, her mother Hélène ( Julie Gayet ) rushes to Paris to help her, leaving behind husband Matthias (Andreas Pietschmann) and her teenage son Lukas (Maxim Drisen) in Germany. She quickly realizes that clearing her daughter's name will not be as easy as she thought, and reaches out to former lover and police officer-turned-attorney Vincent Duc ( Tomer Sisley ) for help. As the two search for evidence that will exonerate her daughter, Hélène discovers that Anya's life in Paris up until that point wasn't all it seemed to be. Meanwhile, investigators are uncovering more clues in the case, and Anya continues to change her story, forcing Hélène to wonder if, and how, her daughter was involved.

Is It Any Good?

The French, German, and Belgian co-production offers an entertaining mystery thriller that's easy to get caught up in. The narrative unfolds over four episodes, and each one offers enough twists and misleading clues to keep viewers wondering what the truth really is. But the story also centers around a mother's commitment to being the best mother she can be to her daughter, and how, despite all efforts, it simply may not be possible. It's engaging, but some folks may find themselves becoming distracted by the fact that the conversations taking place in French are dubbed in English, and the German exchanges are only subtitled. If you can get past this, The Perfect Mother offers a binge-worthy viewing experience.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about watching TV shows and movies from different countries and in different languages. What are the benefits of watching them? What can make it challenging?

How many misleading clues are there in The Perfect Mother? Are they all effective in making the series more thrilling? Are there clues you would have left out in the storytelling process?

• Premiere date : June 3, 2022
• Cast : Eden Ducourant , Julie Gayet , Tomer Sisley
• Network : Netflix
• Genre : Drama
• TV rating : TV-MA
• Last updated : February 17, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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The Perfect Mother Reviews

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The Perfect Mother season 1, episode 4 recap – the ending explained

The finale wraps everything up in a pretty tidy bow with a morbid conclusion, as Helene is finally forced to confront the truth.

This recap of The Perfect Mother season 1, episode 4 contains spoilers, including an open discussion of The Perfect Mother’s ending. You can check out our spoiler-free season review by clicking these words .

The finale of  The Perfect Mother  opens with Anya fearing for her life, trying to hustle a taxi to Berlin. And you can’t blame her, really. Now that the photographs of her and Kamal have been released to the media thanks to Damien’s mother, she knows she’s in danger. Her account has once again been undermined, her innocence is no longer assured, and her status as a “victim” has suddenly become questionable again. Helene is there to stop her from departing, but is this once again the idea of perfect motherhood winning out over logic?

The Perfect Mother season 1, episode 4 recap

The question should be asked. Lukas actually brings it up to Matthias, whose role in the whole affair has been to distance himself from it and pretend it wasn’t happening. Lukas was burdened with Anya’s secrets because their parents were too determined to push the narrative of a perfect life and family. They would rather ignore the obvious than have to confront it; to sully their public persona, and their internal ideas of what being a parent really means. They pretended things were fine when they should have known — correction: did know — that they weren’t.

Helene knows she is complicit in this way. She knows what she has done and what she hasn’t. But she still feels resentment for Anya’s secrecy; even if it was largely an illusion, doesn’t she deserve some credit for how determinedly she has created the ideal life for her family? Doesn’t Anya owe her the truth? The truth, according to Anya, is that Damien’s death was an accident, but one that was nonetheless her fault. She liked Damien but had no idea he was a power-mad psychopath. She didn’t know, if she went back to his place, that he’d drug, hit, and rape her. In the bathroom, after, she called Kamal to get her. She had her phone. She told him about the open window on the roof. When Kamal arrived, Damien set about the pair of them with a knife. When he dropped it in the struggle, Anya took it. At some point, Kamal got a hold of it. Damien, incensed, calling Anya a whore and Kamal a thief, attacked them both, and Kamal stabbed him repeatedly, apparently in self-defense. We see flashbacks corroborating the account, but they’re from Anya’s perspective, so it’s difficult to buy into them totally, and even Helene seems unconvinced.

Vincent asks the essential question: Why didn’t she say this, to begin with? Her description of events is clearly self-defense. But it turns out that Kamal is a Libyan undocumented immigrant — he’s in Paris illegally. They met at the law center, where Anya helped him with his asylum application. They’re in love, she says, and her going home with Damien was just an effort to get back at him for what she assumed was an affair. Now, she wants to make sure she saves him. Vincent persuades her to go to the police station to give them this story, while Helene and her mother go out to look for Kamal at Anya’s request.

The plot thickens when Helene goes looking for Kamal and finds not his sister but his wife and their infant son. They have been living separately because of their status. She also mentions about a duffel bag full of money that Kamal provided and then supposedly returned. She passes this information onto Vincent, who informs Anya, who predictably refuses to believe it. When she’s finally convinced, she doesn’t accept Helene’s reminder of how difficult his life has been or Kamal’s explanation of how marriage and family work in Libya. She calls him, and rats out his location to the police. When they confront him, Kamal tries to escape, jumps off a footbridge, and dies.

And then Anya’s friend Julie goes to see Vincent.

So, here’s what really happened. As we learned through Lukas, Anya was sexually assaulted by her ex-boyfriend and never told anybody. She went to Paris to “heal”, privately, but in the process she began to reinvent herself as a kind of vigilante, taking down men who were abusive. Her temper got the better of her at the shelter. She, along with Julie, targeted a professor who had tried to force himself on a cleaning lady. Julie intentionally took GHB, and Anya blackmailed the man. If he didn’t pay up, she’d go to the police, and with the date-rape drug in Julie’s system, they’d have him dead to rights. He paid, and that’s the money that Kamal’s wife was referring to.

But that wasn’t enough for Anya. Even after Julie had enough of the scheming, she wanted to take down Damien, who was well-known as a serial rapist. So, she went home with him, took the GHB, and tried to extort him. But she underestimated Damien’s sense of entitlement. He wasn’t scared off by the blackmail efforts. Instead, he forced himself on her at knifepoint. During the struggle, she stabbed him to death, and then called Kamal for help.

Vincent takes all this to Helene. But Helene is still adamant about Anya being the victim. She still sees herself as the perfect mother, and for that to be true, Anya can’t possibly have done what Vincent is saying she did. She implores Vincent to defend Anya, and despite his warning that this will live with Helene forever, he does. When Anya is declared free and clear, she smiles at her victory.

But Helene knows what she is. As they walk down the courthouse steps hand in hand, Helene lets go of Anya’s hand and fixes her with an “I know what you did” stare. Anya just goes and cuddles Matthias instead, knowing she has gotten away with it, and at least two men are dead because of her. Helene remains on the courthouse steps, halfway between Vincent, and the truth, and her family and its lies.

You can stream The Perfect Mother season 1, episode 4 exclusively on Netflix . Do you have any thoughts on The Perfect Mother’s ending? Let us know in the comments. 

Article by Jonathon Wilson

Jonathon is one of the co-founders of Ready Steady Cut and has been an instrumental part of the team since its inception in 2017. Jonathon has remained involved in all aspects of the site’s operation, mainly dedicated to its content output, remaining one of its primary Entertainment writers while also functioning as our dedicated Commissioning Editor, publishing over 6,500 articles.

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Netflix ‘The Perfect Mother’: 5 things to know about the thriller mini-series

Nowadays audiences love watching originally conceptualized content in diverse languages. We know how novel-to-series adaptations are becoming the norm followed by several global streaming platforms. Global giant Netflix is the leader in creating fresh and intriguing new content for viewers across the globe which satisfies their palate. All set to surprise the subscribers with their latest offering in thriller genre, the streamer is bringing an original mini-series titled ‘The Perfect Mother’. The series has been adapted by a novel of the same name that had been written by Nina Darnton. The mini-series gives a new flavour and fresh spin on the novel by Darnton.

If avid thriller lovers have enjoyed watching these Netflix series like ‘ Lies and Deceit ’, ‘ Black Beach ’ and ‘ Anatomy of a Scandal ’ then they are really going to love watching this adrenaline-rushed series ‘The Perfect Mother’.

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When is ‘The Perfect Mother’ releasing and where can you watch it?

The much awaited four episodic thriller mini-series ‘The Perfect Mother’ is releasing globally on Netflix at June 3, 2022, by 3.01 am EST.

What is ‘The Perfect Mother’ all about?

Based on the novel of the same name which had been written by Nina Darnton, it revolves around Helene Berg (Julie Gayet) who is a successful mother living in Berlin. Her life changes drastically after she receives a call from her daughter Anya who has left Berlin for studying in Paris. Anya tells her mother about being suspected as a murderer in a homicide case. Convinced about her daughter’s innocence in this entire scenario, Helene pulls in all stops just to save her daughter. During this time gap, Helene also does her own investigation with help of her former flame and now lawyer Vincent (Tomer Sisley) which brings to light many surprising facts and evidences that point out at her daughter being a criminal. Helene is faced with a question of what if her daughter is not really innocent in all of this.

The official synopsis reads, “Convinced of her daughter's innocence in a homicide, a devoted mother soon uncovers unsettling truths as the line between victim and perpetrator blurs”.

Who stars in ‘The Perfect Mother’?

The following starcast has been confirmed for the series.

Julie Gayet as Helene Berg

French star and producer Julie Gayet, 49, has acted in many French films like ‘Delphine 1, Yvon 0’, ‘Quai d’Orsay’, ‘Another House’, ‘We Are Family’ and so on. She is going to be seen playing the lead role of Helene Berg in the much-awaited thriller mini-series ‘The Perfect Mother’ releasing on Netflix.

Other actors in starcast for ‘The Perfect Mother’ include Tomer Sisley, Eden Ducourant, Andreas Pietschmann and several others.

The awaited thriller mini-series has been directed by Fred Garson. The story of the series has been written by Carol Noble and Thomas Boulle. The series has been produced by Netflix and Nadcon films. The series is based on ‘The Perfect Mother’ novel written by Nina Darnton.

The teaser and trailer of the series has not been released yet. We will update this space as soon as it’s out.

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The Mother Review

It's just okay.

If you’re looking for a heartwarming movie about motherhood to watch with your mom, Jennifer Lopez’s newest action movie,  The Mother,  is not it. It premiered on Netflix on May 12, just in time for Mother’s Day . 

Lopez plays the titular mother, a stoic ex-war veteran tangled up with some dangerous criminals, who comes out of hiding when her 12-year-old daughter is kidnapped. She had been in a relationship with these two villains, who were heavily involved in selling illegal weapons. After turning on them and becoming an informant for the FBI, she went into hiding. That’s how we first meet the Mother and one of the other main characters, Special Agent Cruise (Omari Hardwick). Lopez is in the middle of trying to cut a deal with the FBI when the gunfire erupts.

The Mother SPOILER AHEAD

Lopez played this scene pretty calmly. It helped to illustrate her background in the military pretty well before it was even revealed. So, Mother saves Cruise, but out comes one of the big baddies. Ex-SAS officer and arms smuggler Adrian Lovell (Joseph Fiennes) shows up, and stabs Mother, which leads to a solid pregnancy reveal. 

“Lopez plays the titular mother, a stoic ex-war veteran tangled up with some pretty nasty criminals who comes out of hiding when her 12-year-old daughter is kidnapped.”

Despite Mother being a mother, I didn’t suspect the pregnancy reveal at all. They hid her stomach very well during the earlier scene and covered it up so well that it came totally out of the blue. That was probably the first and last time I was surprised by a scene in The Mother . Lopez does not feel natural as a stoic ex-military woman. Her delivery is stiff for most of the film and even laughable at some moments. 

You’d think that across the course of the film and when she finally reunites with her daughter, who, after being born, was given to another family to protect her, Lopez would loosen up even just a little. But the whole film, besides when she’s screaming at baddies or in pain, is done with the exact same stiff delivery. I must admit that she’s got very good sad eyes, so if she had worked on her delivery, she really could have delivered a solid performance. 

My favourite performance in this film was actually from Lopez’s daughter Zoe (Lucy Paez). Paez has only acted in three other films since 2018, but it doesn’t show. Paez has a really natural delivery that pulled at my heartstrings on more than one occasion. 

The rest of the cast was solid—they did what they were paid to do, and they did it well. Omari Hardwick was charming, and I liked his character. Ralph Fiennes did his job as the villain and was menacing at times, especially in the scene where he stabbed Jennifer Lopez early on. The second of the criminal pair, Hector Alvarez (Gael García Bernal), had a short but unsettling scene with Lopez that he sold very well. Bernal’s character was quickly taken down by Lopez in a super satisfying way, which brings me to the gore.

“This movie has a surprising amount of gore, and it’s super well done too.”

This movie had a surprising amount of gore, and it was well-executed. By “well done,” I mean it really grossed me out. I’m no ER nurse, so I can’t speak to the accuracy of the wounds.

As for the action, it was fine. As I mentioned earlier, Lopez didn’t seem natural in this role, and that extended to how she moved. She appeared stiff, and none of it looked particularly fluid, even though the rage she portrayed felt genuine at times.

The Mother featured a generic chase scene through Havana, Cuba. Nothing new was added to this sequence—characters ran around corners, tripped over barrels of oranges, and so on. One part, however, did make me laugh: Lopez hops on a moped but gets blocked by a group of schoolchildren and has to wait for them to pass, a subtle nod to the fact that she’s a mother.

In fact, many scenes in this movie made me giggle. The oddly bad CGI fire in the opening scene, especially for a movie worth $30 million, made me snort. Every time a location title card slid onto the screen and then slid off, I couldn’t help but laugh. I even replayed the location shots a few times because they amused me so much—maybe my sense of humour is just broken. Lopez’s delivery and action scenes also got a laugh from me. One extra detail I really enjoyed was that one of the villains, Tarantula ( Jesse Garcia ), had a Phantom Troupe tattoo on his neck.

So, just like I said at the beginning of this article, this is not a movie you should watch with your mom as a heartwarming, bonding evening. If you and your mom want to giggle a little and waste an hour and 18 minutes,  The Mother  is great for that. If you’re looking for a better bonding movie to watch with Mom, there are a ton of options. Here are a couple of movies with great mother-and-child relationships:   Everything Everywhere All at Once  (2022),  Brave  (2012),  Room (2015),  Turning Red  (2022), and even  Mamma Mia!  (2008).

Final Thoughts

Madison is a Pokemon fanatic, reads manga like she’s getting paid—she definitely isn’t— and is a lover of all things weird and wild. She’s new to the world of journalism but very happy to be here.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, CGMagazine may earn a commission. However, please know this does not impact our reviews or opinions in any way. See our ethics statement.

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DreamWorks' Newest Animated Movie Debuts With Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score

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DreamWorks Animation has found another hit with the studio's newest movie. The Wild Robot , which will have its wide release on Sept. 27, has debuted with a perfect score of 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes in its early reviews.

With nearly 30 reviews submitted by approved critics at this point, the praise for The Wild Robot has been agreed upon by all. The praise goes beyond calling the movie enjoyable, with Jack Martin of Film Feeder declaring it to be "one of the best things that has ever come out of DreamWorks' wheelhouse." Louis Roberts of Loud and Clear Reviews called the movie "the most creative and original animation we've seen from a major studio in quite some time."

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" The Wild Robot is destined to become an animated classic," reads another review by Avi Offer of NYC Movie Guru . "An exhilarating, wise, funny, poignant and uplifting adventure well worth taking."

The Wild Robot is destined to become an animated classic.

The Curvy Film Critic's Carla Renata also said, " The Wild Robot is a heartfelt story about the love which only comes from believing in yourself regardless of what materials you’re made of. After all, sometimes hearts have their own conversations leading one to answers that reside within all along."

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A new look at the Dog Man movie from DreamWorks has been revealed.

"A visual stunner with an A+ voice performance from Lupita Nyong’o," reads another review by critic Perri Nemiroff . "It's an all-around beautiful story about adapting and found families, one powered by an infectious celebration of life."

Chris Sanders wrote and directed The Wild Robot , which is based on the original book series by Peter Brown. Lupita Nyong'o ( Black Panther , A Quiet Place: Day One ) leads the cast as the voice of Roz, the titular robot. Other stars of the voice cast include Pedro Pascal ( The Last of Us , The Fantastic Four: First Steps ), Kit Connor ( Heartstopper ), Catherine O'Hara ( Beetlejuice Beetlejuice ), Bill Nighy ( Pirates of the Caribbean ), Stephanie Hsu ( Everything Everywhere All at Once ), Mark Hamill ( Star Wars ) , Matt Berry ( What We Do in the Shadows ), and Ving Rhames ( Dawn of the Dead ).

Lupita Nyong'o Teases Roz's Journey

“The journey that Roz goes on, as this robot who finds herself with the task of being a mother, illuminates the fact that every parent is doing it for the first time. There’s a learning curve,” Nyong'o previously told Variety about her role in the film. “We see that projected on Roz, who has the naiveté of a child, but in the role of a parent, we expect her to know everything.”

On the movie's emotional scenes, Nyong'o added, "I’ve watched it only one time, but it was heartwarming at the end of the day. And that kind of cry is worth it .”

The Wild Robot will be released in theaters on Sept. 27.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes

The Wild Robot

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Rebel ridge proves aaron pierre is perfect for the upcoming remake of clint eastwood's 98% rt western movie.

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Rebel Ridge Ending Explained

Rebel ridge's subtle reference to a 51-year-old al pacino movie foreshadows the ending twist, 6 ways rebel ridge sets up a sequel.

Aaron Pierre 's performance in Rebel Ridge makes it hard not to believe that he could perfectly embody a Clint Eastwood character in an upcoming remake of a highly acclaimed Western movie. In its initial moments, Rebel Ridge almost unfolds like a typical Western, where a mysterious stranger enters a town on his bike before having a run-in with the local law enforcers. Like a quintessential Western protagonist, he takes a calculative approach toward taking down the ones who wronged him before unleashing his fury.

Considering how Aaron Pierre gives an incredible performance in the Jeremy Saulnier movie , and he is one of the biggest reasons why the film is both a critical and commercial success, it would not be surprising if it paves the way for him to land bigger roles. While only time will tell where his career will take him, the Netflix action movie suggests he would be a great fit for a classic Western action drama. Interestingly, a Clint Eastwood Western , boasting a 98% Rotten Tomatoes score, is already in the works, making it the perfect film for Pierre to take his career to new heights.

After Rebel Ridge, Aaron Pierre Could Perfectly Embody The Man With No Name In A Fistful Of Dollars' Remake

His rebel ridge character is similar to the man with no name.

1964's A Fistful of Dollars ' remake has been confirmed . Although the film is still in the early stages of development, Euro Gang Entertainment is the company behind it. A Fistful of Dollars was among the first few movies that played a crucial role in defining Clint Eastwood's acting career. The film was so successful upon its release that it spawned two sequels, For a Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly , turning the movie series into a full-fledged trilogy, often referred to as the Dollars Trilogy .

Apart from calling it the Dollars Trilogy , many also refer to it as the Man with No Name Trilogy , naming it after Clint Eastwood's eponymous badass character. Although Clint Eastwood cannot be replaced, and no one can play the Man with No Name like him, it is hard not to envision Aaron Pierre as the antihero character in A Fistful of Dollars ' remake. In Rebel Ridge , he exudes a similar kind of charm and confidence that aligns well with the iconic role. Like Eastwood in A Fistful of Dollars, Pierre manages to have a brilliant screen presence despite having limited dialog .

DID YOU KNOW: Many actors, including Charles Bronson, Henry Fonda, Henry Silva, Rory Calhoun, Tony Russel, and Richard Harrison, were considered to play the Man with No Name. However, when none of the casting choices worked out for one reason or another, Richard Harrison suggested Clint Eastwood for the part.

While Rebel Ridge 's main character , Terry Richmond, is far less morally ambiguous than A Fistful of Dollars ' Man with No Name, both characters have a self-defined sense of justice . The two are also incredibly strong and massive in stature, highlighting how Aaron Pierre could be the perfect casting choice for the Man with No Name. Since critics have almost unanimously agreed that Aaron Pierre's performance is among the best aspects of Rebel Ridge , he also seems to have the acting talent to carry the remake on his shoulders and make it work.

A Fistful Of Dollars' Remake Can Give Aaron Pierre The Big Live-Action Leading Role He Deserves After Rebel Ridge

A role in the remake could continue his upward trajectory.

Aaron Pierre has gradually been gaining immense momentum as an actor in recent years. From Caeser in The Underground Railroad to Mid-Sized Sedan in M. Night Shyamalan's Old , from Francis in Brother to Malcolm X in Genius , the actor has been growing from strength to strength with each role. By giving a compelling performance in Rebel Ridge as its lead, Pierre has further cemented himself as a creative powerhouse who deserves more mainstream roles in the future . Even the future already looks bright for the actor because he is the voice behind Mufasa in Mufasa: The Lion King .

...as his portrayal of the stoic ex-Marine in Rebel Ridge establishes, Aaron Pierre deserves the opportunity to land iconic roles like the Man with No Name to further showcase his range and depth as an actor.

His upward trajectory could scale new heights if he gets to play the Man with No Name in A Fist Full of Dollars ' remake, giving him his first major live-action leading role. With only a little over ten acting credits under his belt, he is only getting started. However, as his portrayal of the stoic ex-Marine in Rebel Ridge establishes, Aaron Pierre deserves the opportunity to land iconic roles like the Man with No Name to further showcase his range and depth as an actor.

A Fistful Of Dollars' Remake Is A Great Way To Continue Aaron Pierre's Genre Trend

Rebel ridge has already established him as a compelling western lead.

Aaron Pierre has only done a few TV shows and movies so far, but he has already played roles in a diverse set of genres. His line of work includes sci-fi ( Krypton ), horror ( Old ), historical drama ( Genius ), musical drama ( Brother ), animation ( Mufasa: The Lion King ), and action thriller ( Rebel Ridge ). A Western like A Fistful of Dollars , which once starred Clint Eastwood , would be a great addition to Aaron Pierre 's acting portfolio, further showcasing his versatility and range as an actor, paving the way for him to grow in a positive new direction after Rebel Ride 's success.

After walking through a slam-bang showdown between Terry Richmond and the police, Rebel Ridge's gripping action drama finally ends on a positive note.

Key Background

• Aaron Pierre is 6 feet 3 inches tall, making him nearly as tall as the Man with No Name.
• Pierre made his TV debut with Prime Suspect: Tennison in 2017 and his movie debut with Old in 2021.
• Aaron Pierre graduated from the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in 2016.

Rebel Ridge

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Former Marine Terry Richmond travels to Shelby Springs to post bail for his cousin, only to find his savings unjustly seized by a corrupt local police force. With the help of court clerk Summer McBride, Terry uncovers a deep-seated conspiracy and vows to bring justice to the town.