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Ma Movie Review

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Review for the film " Ma"

Runtime: 1 Hour 39 Minutes

Certificate: UA

Released: 27-12-2019

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Drama

Similar To: Woman Of The Hour, Time Cut, House Of Spoils, Rebel Ridge

Critic Review
User Review

2.5 / 5.00

3.48 / 5.0

CAST & CREW

Luke Evans

Allison Janney

Jason Blum

Juliette Lewis

Octavia Spencer

Missi Pyle

MORE CAST & CREW

Producer:

Jason Blum

John Norris

Tate Taylor

Music Director:

Gregory Tripi

Editor:

Jin Lee

Lucy Donaldson

Director:

Tate Taylor

Supporting Actress:

Allison Janney

Juliette Lewis

Octavia Spencer

Missi Pyle

Costume Designer:

Megan Coates

Director of Photography:

Christina Voros

Executive Producer:

Octavia Spencer

Robin Mulcahy Fisichella

Screenplay Writer:

Scotty Landes

Makeup Artist:

Karri Farris

Benji Dove

Supporting Actor:

Skyler Joy

Nicole Carpenter

Tanyell Waivers

Margaret Fegan

Luke Evans

Kyanna Simone Simpson

Katira Banks

McKaley Miller

Heather Marie Pate

Calvin Williams

Corey Fogelmanis

Dante Brown

Diana Silvers

Dominic Burgess

Elijah Bray

Emma Frances Burge

Gianni Paolo

Victor Turpin

Click Here For Full Cast & Crew

Plot

The film begins with a bland narrative that Maggie has moved into a new city. Sue Ann magically pops up in the story. She is a middle-aged woman plagued by a horrific high school experience. She remains isolated. One day she meets a bunch of teenagers who beg her to purchase alcohol for an illegal party. Sue Ann grudgingly agrees and comes up with a plan; the youngsters can drink in her basement provided they promise to stay away from the rest of her house. Although the first arrangement works well for all parties, giving the youngsters a place to drink without constraints and Sue Ann alias Ma much-needed company, her intensity quickly becomes out of control.

Star Performance

The one character that brings the film together and is bearable to watch and enjoy is played by Oscar winner, Octavia Spencer Octavia Lenora Spencer born in Montgomery, Alabama >> Read More... . It is refreshing to see Octavia Spencer in this type of movie; she has real acting chops which reflect throughout the film with this little script. Diana Silvers and Juliette Lewis Juliette L. Lewis was born on June 21, 1973, in Lo >> Read More... are also incredible actors portraying remarkable characters with appropriate depth and attitude.

Analysis

Ma browses Facebook before staring into space. Viewers are supposed to be uneasy about these takes especially as they take us back to high school when she was oblivious of the terrible bullying she endured at the hands of her peers. However, they are over-cooked situations that would destroy a performer lacking Spencer's tenacity. The plot is predictable and could have turned out better with better and more appropriate dialogues and inserts. Apart from the flaws, it has mature themes and could have done an excellent job portraying these pieces with certainty and strength. The themes are popularity as power, tokenism and the lingering horrors of our high school years(one of the periods in our lives that mentally affect us the most). But while the movie does play with heavier themes, it's primarily satisfied with being a fun Friday night thrill trip and it's successful without relying on too many awkward jump scares. The setup may seem familiar to anybody even remotely familiar with the genre but the writing is well-paced and there's enough unease, such as Ma's overt sexual interest in teenage guys, to keep our attention.

What's There?

Excellent performance by Octavia Spencers

What's Not There?

Dreadfully boring for most parts
Lack of depth in the plot
Bad ending
Not enough suspense

Verdict

It doesn’t woo you much for it to be called a good horror and thriller drama film. It has its pros and cons while the cons weigh more. Octavia Spencer has done an excellent job for her character and she must be appreciated for it.
Watch it with low expectations to avoid disappointment.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

General

What is the genre of "Ma"?

Horror, Thriller, Drama

Who directed "Ma"?

Tate Taylor

What is the duration of "Ma"?

1 Hour 39 Minutes

When was "Ma" released?

27-12-2019

Cast & Crew

Who is the supporting cast in "Ma"?

Calvin Williams, Corey Fogelmanis, Dante Brown, Diana Silvers, Dominic Burgess, Elijah Bray, Emma Frances Burge, Gianni Paolo, Heather Marie Pate, Katira Banks, Kyanna Simone Simpson, Luke Evans, Margaret Fegan, McKaley Miller, Nicole Carpenter, Skyler Joy, Tanyell Waivers, Victor Turpin, Allison Janney, Missi Pyle, Juliette Lewis, Octavia Spencer