Hey ma! Normally this expression is used to greet a mother or a loved one who is a motherly figure. In this movie, there is one. Well, sort of.
In this small town the cops seem to be nowhere, and in a population of maybe 25 people, things go unnoticed. Let’s say someone gets hit by a car — no one sees. Let’s say teenagers obtain alcohol from an adult (more than once might I add) — no one notices. This pattern seems to happen quite a bit in the film “Ma.” But doesn’t that factor happen in most horror films? Yes, except this one has some real weird, messed up twists that will leave the audience gawking in their seats.
Director Tate Taylor, who also produced the film and wrote the screenplay, did an excellent job. The film had various questions throughout, but I felt fulfilled by the end of the film and felt like each series of events made the time sitting in a theater worth it.
If you haven’t seen the nightmare trailer for the movie yet, the premise is quite a confusing one and the main plot is full of surprises which I do not want to spoil. Essentially, a group of teenagers ask this woman (Octavia Spencer) to buy them alcohol, more than once, and she starts partying with them in her own home. She doesn’t have her life together, and has quite a bit of crazy inside her, so throughout the movie it unravels to become something you could only imagine in your wildest nightmares.
Lindsay Trombly | Argonaut
Blumhouse producer Jason Blum has helped create film favorites of mine such as “Happy Death Day” “The Visit” and “Get Out.” These three films had such different storylines, which made the story and the dark atmosphere all come together. No wonder I’m a huge fan of “Ma.” The stars in this film really went all out and it became a realistic experience where I could feel each character’s emotions while this unique storyline unfolded.
But, one actress stood out as the star role in the film — Octavia Spencer. She plays a crazy lady in a psychological thriller perfectly. And it is not just because of how she speaks. It’s her look, her stare, that sinks into your soul. Octavia Spencer is not just an actress anymore. She is Ma.
Besides Spencer standing out in this brilliant piece of cinema, what I loved most about this film is the trailer did not give away everything there is to the plot. I was pleasantly surprised to have an unexpected storyline.
Each twist got darker and creepier, until even the audience cringed at the climax section of the film. I mean, who wouldn’t mind getting their mouth sewn shut? I know I would mind. The audience went wild — I even had to look away from the screen during the scene.
The only thing I wish was improved in the film was the realness of small events in the storyline, as some parts were left hanging and weren’t really resolved. When people in a small town show up dead, people should notice. But also, how were minors able to obtain alcohol from an adult so often in the same spot in a small town? Where is the law in the film? Not really anywhere. I wish there were a few more cops just to convince me a bit more how smart Ma’s decisions were in the film.
The teenagers’ decision-making skills were also pretty weak. Minors need to realize that while alcohol may be great, it isn’t worth it to find a stranger to be your alcohol dealer. Especially since it could get you in a ton of trouble and you might even end up dead.
Lindsay Trombly can be reached at [email protected]