Ma
Director: Tate Taylor
Screenplay: Scotty Landes
Minutes: 97
Year: 2019
Score: 6.53
Release: Universal Picture Home Entertainment
After watching this film, knowing nothing about its background, I would have no problem believing that it was originally pitched as an episode of Criminal Minds. Click HERE for a chance to win a blu-ray.
Everybody’s welcome at Ma’s. But good luck getting home safe. Sue Ann (Oscar® winner Octavia Spencer) is a lonely woman who keeps to herself in a quiet Ohio town. When a local teenage girl asks Sue Ann to buy some booze for her group of friends, she decides to make some new friends of her own and offers her basement for the kids to party. They just have to follow a few simple house rules: Someone has to stay sober. Don’t curse. Never go upstairs. And call her “Ma.” As Ma’s hospitality curdles into obsession, what began as a teenage dream turns into a terrorizing nightmare, and Ma’s place goes from the best place in town to the worst place on earth.
The film is a little problematic, depending on your age. The performances of Octavia Spencer and Juliette Lewis were high points, nearly to the point of forgiving the younger actors of the picture. Almost. It is worth noting that I don’t know enough teenagers so I don’t know if they are all assholes, like the are written here, but I hope they aren’t and it is bad writing.
I suppose it is also possible that I am ignoring the fact that Spencer signed on without reading a script just because her pal Tate Taylor wanted to make a messed up movie. Taylor, you may remember is the director if the incredible film The Help. Between him, Spencer, and my faith in Blumhouse productions I had decent expectations going in and, perhaps, a more forgiving attitude to the film. My wife, on the other hand, didn’t hazard any of these prior relationships and harbors an opinion much less kind than I do. She didn’t really buy any of it.
The character of Sue Ann seems shamefully naive on the outside, while being maniacally, yet understandably, vengeful on the inside. Her high school years culminated in being sexually assaulted and humiliated for being different. What, exactly, triggers Sue Ann into her psychotic break is not entirely clear, since she has been living a seemingly content life, with a few quirks (we’ll call them) , but something does and the flick escalates just shy of what you are probably looking for in a slasher flick.
I wouldn’t want to suggest that I didn’t enjoy the film. It certainly had its moments, but it doesn’t not seem to be the fare one would expect from the creative team. Especially considering some of the all star caliber talent in the supporting roles.
Special Features:
- Alternate Ending
- Deleted Scenes
- Creating Sue Ann
- Party at Ma’s
- Theatrical Trailer
Director: 5 – Cinematography: 6 – Edit: 5 – Parity: 8 – Main performance: 10 – Else performance: 5 – Score: 9 – Sound: 4 – Story: 8 – Script: 6 – Effects: 7 – Design: 6 – Costumes: 7 – Keeps interest: 10 – Lasting: 5