Good Manners (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Good Manners is a 2018 fantasy musical directed by Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra, starring Isabél Zuaa as Clara, Marjorie Estiano and Miguel Lobo. It runs 2 hours 15 minutes and earned $35,714 worldwide. Critics gave it 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 15m (135 min)
- Directors
- Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra
- Original language
-
Portuguese
- Studio
- Distrib Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Good Manners About?
The premise of Good Manners without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A solitary heiress hires Clara, a compassionate nurse, to care for her during a pregnancy. As the full moon approaches, a startling supernatural transformation reveals a deeper connection between the heiress and Clara—they are bound to a shape-shifting creature. Together, they must protect the creature's existence while confronting hidden threats and unraveling a mysterious destiny.
Good Manners Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- werewolf
- full moon
- somnambulism
- motherhood
- cat
- gun
- singing
- ultrasonography
- kiss
- blood
- somnambulist
- sleepwalking
+38 more Show fewer
- sleepwalker
- eating a cat
- food
- childbirth
- giving birth
- breast feeding
- taxi
- birthday
- birthday cake
- blowing out candles on a birthday cake
- hidden room
- chain
- chains
- chained
- chained to wall
- bathtub
- meat
- school
- theater
- shopping mall
- transformation
- werewolf transformation
- child werewolf
- classroom
- locked in
- fireworks
- lesbian sex
- lesbian
- fairy tale
- pregnancy
- refrigerator
- female female kiss
- white cat
- dancing
- knife
- music box
- 7th birthday
- 7 year old
Good Manners Cast & Characters
Isabél Zuaa leads the cast as Clara, with Marjorie Estiano as Ana and Miguel Lobo as Joel. Directed by Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Co-director Juliana Rojas
- Co-director Marco Dutra
- Isabél Zuaa as Clara
- Marjorie Estiano as Ana
- Miguel Lobo as Joel
- Cida Moreira as Dona Amélia
Also Starring in Good Manners
· 6 more- Neusa Velasco Dona Norma
- Felipe Kenji Maurício
- Nina Medeiros Amanda
- Gilda Nomacce Gilda
- Eduardo Gomes Professor Edu
- Andréa Marquee
More from Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra
More films directed by Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra, best-rated first: Hard Labor, Bury Your Dead, Cidade; Campo and All the Dead Ones.
Good Manners Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Good Manners 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 77/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in story & flow (65).
Good Manners Echo Score Breakdown
The film’s ambitious genre blend and thematic depth stand out. While multiple critics praised its haunting blend of fairytale and horror elements and strong direction, some noted uneven pacing and a resolution that feels unearned. Users likewise highlighted its originality and visual flair, though they found moments overstretched. Despite these mixed observations, the consensus acknowledges a distinctive cinematic experience that largely succeeds on its own terms.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 80
In terms of art and craft, Good Manners excels in its striking visual design and measured direction. Critics frequently cited its beautiful cinematography and atmospheric set pieces, and users noted its fairytale ambiance enhanced by vivid style choices. Although some found shifts between surface beauty and narrative awkwardness, the film’s overall art direction remains compelling and cohesive.
- Character & Emotion 75
When it comes to character and emotion, the film benefits from nuanced central performances that convey maternal bonds and internal conflict. Critics praised the lead’s empathetic portrayal, while users remarked on the fresh emotional angle added to the werewolf myth. Some observers, however, felt later developments lacked depth. Overall, the emotional core sustains audience engagement across most of the runtime.
- Story & Flow 65
With respect to story and flow, Good Manners offers an original narrative that merges horror and fairy tale conventions. Viewers appreciated its unpredictable twists and thematic richness, yet several reviewers criticized a sluggish midsection and an unsatisfying conclusion. Balancing humor and seriousness posed occasional challenges, resulting in uneven pacing. On balance, originality shines despite structural inconsistencies.
- Sensory Experience 80
In terms of sensory experience, the film delivers an evocative soundscape and a lush visual style. Critics highlighted its haunting score and artful sound design, and users noted the effective interplay of horror and magical elements. Some noted tonal shifts that undercut immersion, but the cohesive audiovisual palette largely sustains the film’s enchanting yet unsettling atmosphere from start to finish.
- Rewatch Factor 70
Regarding rewatch factor, Good Manners provides a novel perspective that can reward repeat viewings, particularly through its layered genre blend and thematic subtext. While a few viewers cited an overabundance of ideas and pacing issues that dampen subsequent engagement, the film’s distinctive approach and surprising moments of revelation maintain enduring appeal for interested audiences.
-
IMDb 6.7 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 96% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 70%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 73 Metascore
User score 7.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 65% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.5 /5
103 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.3 /5
See on Movie Insider
Good Manners Plot Summary
What happens in Good Manners from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Clara, Isabél Zuaa, interviews for a nanny job despite having no experience or references. Just as she is about to be turned down for the job, the woman interviewing her, Ana Marjorie Estiano, experiences cramping. A sympathetic Clara guides her through the pain, and Ana decides to hire her as a live-in housekeeper and future nanny.
On her 29th birthday, Ana gets drunk and reveals to Clara that she is estranged from her family. Originally engaged to a man, she cheated on him and conceived a child from her affair. Her parents sent her to the city to have an abortion, but they severed ties with her after she refused to go through with it.
Full summary
The whole story of Good Manners, scene by scene
Good Manners Box Office
Good Manners grossed $35,714 worldwide. $31,177 came from the US and Canada and $4,537 (13%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$35.7K
- US & Canada
- $31.2K
- International
- $4.5K
Good Manners Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer GOOD MANNERS (As Boas Maneiras) OFFICIAL TRAILER #2
How Well Do You Know Good Manners?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name given to the werewolf baby that Clara adopts?
Cars in Good Manners
32 cars on screen, including the Kia Sportage and the 1997 Buick Century.
-
Kia Sportage Important role -
1997 Buick Century Minor role -
1996 Dodge Caravan Minor role -
2005 Ford Taurus Minor role
Good Manners Also Known As
10 alternative titles, including “Les bonnes manières” and “血色搖籃曲”.
- Also known as
-
- Les bonnes manières
- 血色搖籃曲
- Los buenos modales
- 굿 매너스
- Gute Manieren
- Хорошие манеры
- 好孩子
- נימוסים טובים
- Dobre maniery
- Les bones maneres
Seen Good Manners?
Movies Like Good Manners
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Goodnight Mommy, Goodnight and Necromancy.
Good Manners FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Good Manners, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Good Manners?
Good Manners runs 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes).
When was Good Manners released?
Good Manners was released on July 27, 2018.
Who directed Good Manners?
Good Manners was directed by Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra.
More films by Juliana Rojas Who is in the cast of Good Manners?
Good Manners stars Isabél Zuaa as Clara, Marjorie Estiano as Ana and Miguel Lobo as Joel, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Good Manners make at the box office?
Good Manners grossed $35,714 worldwide ($31,177 domestic, $4,537 international).
How is Good Manners rated?
Good Manners has 6.7/10 on IMDb, 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.
Does Good Manners have a post-credit scene?
No. Good Manners has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Good Manners in?
The original language of Good Manners is Portuguese.
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