Ma

Director: Tate Taylor
Starring: Octavia Spencer, Juliette Lewis, Diana Silvers, Mc Kaley Miller, Corey Fogelmanis, Gianni Paolo, Dante Brown, Tanya Waivers, Luke Evans, Missy Pyle, Alison Janney
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Runtime: 99 mins. Reviewed in May 2020

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Rating notes: Strong themes, coarse language and brief nudity

Ma sounds a kind of folksy ingratiating name for mother or a mother-figure. And, when we are introduced to her and find she is being played by that fine character actress, Octavia Spencer, we might expect something genial.

But then some will notice that this is a Blumhouse production and Blumhouse is best noted for thrillers, and a lot of horror stories. And, this is the direction in which Ma (both the character and the film) takes us. However, unlike many of the Blumhouse productions, there is nothing supernatural in this plot. This is a focus on the complexities of human nature.

Ma is Sue Ann, getting older, living at home, working as a vet (with Allison Janney as her boss in a rather low key cameo role). However, the initial focus is on a mother and daughter, Juliette Lewis and Diane Silver, the mother returning to the town where she grew up. She gets a job in a casino. The daughter goes to school where she encounters a group of friendly students (who, surprisingly, remain her friends throughout the film despite all the ups and downs, especially the final downs).

However, they have a touch of the rebellion in them and want to buy some alcohol and, encountering Ma walking a dog, they enlist her help. Not only does she help, but she invites them to the basement of her house where they can party. They take up the invitation. Ma is exhilarated and enters more and more into the partying.

Of course, it all becomes quite complex. There are flashbacks to Sue Ann when she was at school and bullied. There is the discovery that she has a daughter whom she protects. And, some of the parent generation in the present worth the bullies from the past.

As the behaviour becomes more and more sinister, and Ma is threatened, the screenplay moves towards some violence and cruelty, some mad and deadly manifestations.

It is interesting to watch Octavia Spencer as Sue Ann, genially dealing with the youngsters, but becoming more and more possessive, even deranged.

Not everybody’s choice for entertainment, but in its way, drawing us in.

Peter Malone MSC is an Associate of the Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting.