Directed and produced by brother/sister duo Andrés Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti, Mama has a brilliant concept that is executed very well at the beginning.
Mama follows the story of two young sisters, Victoria and Lily played played amazingly well by Megan Charpentier (& Morgan McGarry as a younger Victoria) and Isabelle Nelisse. They are left to go feral in the woods after their demented daddy is set upon by an ethereal figure after a mental breakdown and attempt to try hurt the girls. Victoria and Lily soon start to call this being “Mama” and spend five years fending for themselves in the woods and eating whatever they can find. They are eventually found and adopted by their fathers twin brother and uncle Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau- Game of Thrones) and his far-from-familial rock chick girlfriend Annabel (Jessica Chastain- Zero Dark Thirty). Unfortunately Mama isn’t ready to give up her new found babies just yet.
The maternal theme that dominates the film give it an edge of sorts and the bond that slowly but surely develops between Annabel and the girls is believable, with Lucas not playing much of part as he maybe should.
The movie is very well directed and the acting is very good, and while Mama is certainly creepy and suspenseful at times, I just don’t think it’s as scary as it could have been.
It was brilliant at the beginning and mid-way through it still had my interest but as soon as I saw “Mama” it went downhill for me.
I would recommend Mama for its story and the start of the film but I have to mention my disdain for the look of Mama. With the budget this movie had, I just feel it could have been much better. Or perhaps not being shown at all, or even not so much would’ve worked in its favor. For me personally.
Possessive mums can be a nightmare, but the apparitional ones with murderous tendencies are the ones to worry about.
Gotta love family reunions.
WICKED RATING: 5/10
Title: Mama
Director(s): Andrés Muschietti
Writer(s): Andrés Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, Neil Cross
Stars: Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Megan Charpentier , Isabelle Nelisse
Year: 2013
Studio/ Production Co: Universal Pictures, De Milo, Toma 78
Budget: $15,000,000 (estimated)
Language: English
Length: 100mins
Sub-Genre: Drama
