Mama (2013)

A young couple take in their two nieces only to suspect that a supernatural spirit named Mama has latched itself to their family.

Director:

Andy Muschietti

Writers:

Andy Muschietti (story), Barbara Muschietti (story)

Stars:

Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Megan Charpentier

11 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jessica Chastain	...	Annabel
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau	...	Lucas / Jeffrey
Megan Charpentier	...	Victoria
Isabelle Nélisse	...	Lilly (as Isabelle Nelisse)
Daniel Kash	...	Dr. Dreyfuss
Javier Botet	...	Mama
Jane Moffat	...	Jean Podolski / Mama (Voice)
Morgan McGarry	...	Young Victoria
David Fox	...	Burnsie
Dominic Cuzzocrea	...	Ron
Christopher Marren	...	Cop (as Chris Marren)
Julia Chantrey	...	Nina
Ray Kahnert	...	Judge
Diane Gordon	...	Louise
Matthew Edison	...	Young Cop

Storyline

The senior partner of an investment brokerage, Jeffrey Desange, has a breakdown due to a financial collapse and kills several co-workers and his estranged wife. He then kidnaps his two young daughters, Victoria 3 and Lilly just 1. He drives his car recklessly through a winding snow covered road. He loses control of his car and drives off an embankment. He finds an abandoned and isolated cabin where he plans to kill his daughters, but the children are saved by a dark ghostly image. After five years of searching and depleting his savings, Jeffrey's twin brother, Lucas, finds the children that were raised without social interaction and claim that they have been raised by 'Mama'. Lucas disputes the custody with the children's Great Aunt but Dr. Dreyfuss, who is working with the girls, helps Lucas get custody of the girls so that he can still have access to them. Lucas, his girlfriend Annabel, Victoria and Lilly move into a house provided by the institute that Dr. Dreyfuss works for. Lucas...

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Plot Keywords:

cabin in the woods | mother daughter relationship | ghost | supernatural horror | children | 

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Taglines:

A mother's love is forever.

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence and terror, some disturbing images and thematic elements

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Canada Spain

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 January 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mamá

Filming Locations:

Cambridge, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$28,123,052, 20 January 2013, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$71,628,180

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$146,428,180

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, De Milo, Toma 78

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is not the first time Javier Botet has played a ghoulish woman, as he previously appeared as the possessed patient zero in [Rec] (2007).

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Goofs

In the cabin in the opening scene, the girls' position relative to each other switches between shots when the cherry seed is rolled to them.

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Quotes

Young Victoria: Daddy! There's a woman outside... She's not touching the floor!

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #21.87 (2013)

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Soundtracks

Nightmares
Written by Junkie XL, J. Stevens, F. Xavier and M. Sharrad
Performed by Junkie XL
Courtesy of Roadrunner Records

User Reviews

Besides the structure, design and vibe everything else is mediocre

I liked the structure, design and vibe of this movie but everything else was kinda mediocre. It's basically a ghost haunting movie, of course the ghosts in different movies haunts for different reasons. But this one is a ghost haunting movie. Where two sibling kids that move like a spider Gollum especially the younger one that gets found in a small house in the woods. And a couple decides to take care of them because the guy feels responsible because they are the daughters of his brother who disappeared. And the 30yr old garage band girl who is the girlfriend of the guy because she feels that she needs to put up with it. This movie does a decent job of making a dis-likable character somewhat likable near the end. Like I said the structure, design and vibe adds a lot to the creepiness but when it comes to the story, it doesn't really stand out. This movie is much better than "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark" which is another movie presented by Guillermo del Toro. But it doesn't reach the psychedelic dreamlike vibe that is creepy or even scary and yet beautiful although it tries to be. The film "The Orphanage" comes to mind.

6/10