Mama-review

Mama brings a great new vision to the cinematic ghost story.  The acting is really well done.  The story is very interesting and displays some intelligence.  There are even some cleverly filmed scares that work really well.  It has a lot of imagination that is like watching a nightmare come to life.

Victoria and Lilly are left in a cabin after a ghost kills their father during a botched murder-suicide.  For five years this apparition cares the girls as they become more feral.  When Victoria and Lilly are found they move in with their Uncle Lucas and his girlfriend Annabelle, played by Jessica Chastain.  Strange things begin happening as they take on the task of caring for the girls.  Are Lilly and Victoria being visited by someone or has the ghost returned?

The acting is really well done. Jessica Chastain does an amazing job playing a rocker girl turned reluctant mother of two feral girls.  The child actors they cast in this movie do a fabulous job.  They are very good, chilling when they want to be, and can easily steal any scene they are in.

The story is well paced and builds suspense in a clever way.  The movie doesn’t rely on jump scares but shows skill by using other camera tricks to build up scares.  The story hits the ground running and starts very fast paced.  The biggest flaw is that it has an ending that is a mixed bag at best. You’ll either love it or hate it. 

As a whole the movie is pretty clever.  It’s an original and fun ghost story that is really worth watching.  If you are looking for something different and creepy go for a matinee or rental viewing.  If you are a fan of movies like Insidous or The Ring this will probably be right up your alley and a must see.