I Hope She's Not My Real Mother...

“Mama”
written by Andrés Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti and Neil Cross
directed by Andrés Muschietti
Starring Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Daniel Kash and Javier Botet
Rated PG-13
100 Minutes

 

There is a perception among horror movie aficionados that in order for a horror film to be any good, it must have an R rating.  Perhaps that allows for the freedom of adding more blood and gore and a few liberal uses of the F word.  You know the one.  Then there is “Mama,” a terrifically atmospheric tale that earns its truly horrifying moments using the more accessible PG-13 rating.  First time director Andrés Muschietti delivers an effectively creepy story that is ‘presented’ via executive producer Guillermo del Toro and for once, that actually means something because “Mama” has his trademark style all over it.

I had no prior knowledge of “Mama” until the eleventh hour before going to see it; and I’m really glad I went in having no idea what to expect.  If you can, avoid the trailers and I think you’ll have a better time because while the film does indulge in a couple generic jump-scare moments, it mostly works off its own bleak atmosphere and dark story.  It begins with a father (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) absconding with his two young daughters after shooting their mother.  He recklessly speeds on snowy roads and after crashing, retreats with the young girls into a cabin in the woods.  In a further attempt to win father of the year, he contemplates shooting the girls before he is interrupted by….something.

Five years on, the girls’ Uncle Lucas (also played by Coster-Waldau) searches desperately for his nieces, all the while trying to maintain a functional relationship with his rock-band girlfriend Annabel (Jessica Chastain, miles away from her role in “Zero Dark Thirty”).  Lucas’ hired men find the girls in the very same cabin, filthy and feral.  The scene of their discovery is pretty disturbing and probably aided by CGI to get the animalistic movements just right.  The girls are placed into the care of Lucas and Annabel; the oldest girl, Victoria (Megan Charpentier) seems to retain memories of her former self and begins to adapt to normal life again.  The youngest, Lilly (Isabelle Nélisse) is a different story.  She sleeps under the bed and appears to depend on an unseen caregiver that Victoria refers to as ‘mama.’
  

I must resist divulging further details to preserve the many legitimate twists and surprises.  “Mama” seems to stick to convention, before offering up a completely unforeseen series of events; such as the girls being left alone with Annabel after an “accident” puts Uncle Lucas in the hospital.  The movie succeeds in providing some horrifying imagery without giving in to unnecessary gore and bloodshed, although I would argue that “Mama” may indeed be too much for some 13 year-olds.  It’s worth noting that none of the adult characters in the movie should be considered role models for good parenting; least of all ‘mama.’

The ending of “Mama” will be much discussed and debated, and will certainly be a controversial one.  I looked up comments by Guillermo del Toro and Muschietti and discovered that they were willing to fight long and hard to retain the ending as it is.  Considering the nature of the story, I will say that the ending is unconventional, but bold; and with a tale this disturbing, probably even makes the most sense.  In any case, this is a smart, crafty horror film that adequately delivers more than a few effective chills.  If you go with a date, make sure you get her home on time; lest she have a parent like “Mama.”  You’ve been warned.