Mama

Mama

Annabel and Lucas are faced with the challenge of raising his young nieces that were left alone in the forest for 5 years…. but how alone were they?

I was predisposed to like this movie.

Ever since Pan’s Labyrinth, I’ve known Guillermo del Toro can deliver an intriguing fantasy world. I also know he can deliver chills & goosebumps, he definitely did here.

Jessica Chastain, Mama

Further setting my expectations was the casting of Jessica Chastain, who manages to portray strength & delicacy in whatever measure needed in each of her roles. She is quite good here – and nearly unrecognizable with short black hair and an array of tattoos.

This is sufficiently creepy and visually arresting, you get the requisite jump-out-of-your-seat shots (perhaps they go to that well a few times too many), you may have some lingering chills. There is nothing too gory in the gruesome here, so if you are the type to have nightmares, they may be spooky – but not bloody.

The story is…weak. Not exactly a think piece, certainly no surprises in the plot. Still, it is a ghost story and, if you are into that sort of thing, you should be sufficiently satisfied with this one.

I did have a minor quibble, but since it is a bit of a spoiler I put it below.


Rotten Tomatoes: Critics 65%; Audience 56%


SPOILERS
Hover to reveal

Why would this entity, who kept these girls alive for 5 years, suddenly want to kill them?