An « instant classic » horror movie that one viewer hailed as « possibly the scariest film I have ever seen », is streaming now in the UK. Mama (2013) follows the story of two young girls who disappear into a forest after their dad has a violent breakdown. The pair then live for years in a remote cabin, watched over by a mysterious entity called « Mama ».
Eventually, their uncle tracks his nieces down, and takes them back to his home to raise them with his girlfriend. But Mama isn’t ready to let them go. The film stars Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Megan Charpentier, Isabelle Nélisse, Daniel Kash, and Javier Botet. It was directed and co-written by Andy Muschietti and based on his short film Mamá, released in 2008. The short film was championed by renowned filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, who was an executive producer on the feature-length version.
One fan on Letterboxd said Mama is « possibly the scariest film I have ever seen, but also one of the most touching, well filmed and memorable stories in a very long time ».
« More ghost story than fairytale, it’s one that is sure to haunt me for all time, and I will think twice before I turn out the lights tonight.. »
A fan on IMDb said they highly recommended it to anyone, as its « not your stereotypical horror movie ». « Its distinct lack of gore, and high level of well-crafted story, makes for an exciting experience for both horror lovers, and those who don’t necessarily appreciate the genre, » they added.
« If you get the chance to watch it, take it immediately. If you aren’t given the chance to watch it, make the chance yourself. »
Not everyone was completely bowled over by the film, reflected in its unremarkable 6.2/10 and 63% scores on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, respectively.
One commenter said: « There are flaws in the film and it does have to do with plot holes.
« The director could have worked these holes out with other writers……like Del Toro perhaps. The back story had the hugest gap of all.
However, they added « it was better than ‘Don’t be Afraid of the Dark’, and I will be seeing this film again ».
But many others appreciated its unconventional blending of horror and fairytale, desite some flaws. One of its proponents, writing on Letterboxd, called it the « scariest, most unpredictable film I’ve seen in a long time ».
« Fantastic photography, sound and effects, with brilliant acting, especially Jessica Chastain as Annabelle. Fantastic effects during the film’s climax. An instant classic and favorite! Another incredible Guillermo del Toro production. »
Another said: « It does dabble in some horror tropes and lapses in logic, but overall it’s very successful at what it tries to be – a movie that burrows into your head to make you wonder what is coming next. »
A fan on Rotten Tomatoes wrote: « I can understand the critics certainly, I find myself bored with most horrors of this type. I don’t know what it is about this film but it has stuck with me since I first saw it.
« Certain scenes imprinted on me like no other. No other film before or after this has caused me to lose sleep, but I lost two nights over this. Is that not what every horror strives for in it’s very essence? For me personally I cannot give less than 5 stars. »
The film has a 15 certificate and contains strong supernatural threat and brief strong violence, so viewer discretion is advised.
Mama is streaming now on Netflix. It’s also available to rent or buy on various platforms, including Sky Store, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and YouTube.
