Mama (2013) Review: A Supernatural Horror Film About Love and Loss

 

Mama | 2013 | 1h 40m
Genre: Supernatural Horror/Fantasy/Horror/Thriller
Country: Canada/Spain/Mexico
Director: Andy Muschietti
Writers: Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, Neil Cross
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Megan Charpentier
IMDb: 6.2
My Rating: 8/10

Lucas finds his two nieces, Victoria and Lily, who disappeared five years ago, and brings them back into his life. However, he soon discovers that a mysterious dark figure has followed them.

Warning:

Contains scenes of suicide, violence, and strong language.

 

Synopsis of Mama

Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) searches for his two nieces, Lily and Victoria, who disappeared after being kidnapped by their father, Jeffrey. Struggling with financial problems, Jeffrey murders his coworker and wife before taking his two children to an abandoned cabin in the woods. He plans to kill them before ending his own life, but a mysterious dark figure appears and prevents his plan.

After five years of searching, Lily and Victoria are finally found inside the cabin. However, after being isolated from society for so long, both children have developed unusual behaviors. Lily, who disappeared when she was only one year old, especially struggles to communicate and interact with others.

Victoria slowly begins to reconnect with the world after Lucas gives her glasses that allow her to see clearly. She starts recognizing Lucas as her uncle and a familiar figure from her past.

Lucas, together with his girlfriend Annabel (Jessica Chastain), tries to take care of the two children while fighting to maintain custody of them. However, their new life becomes increasingly complicated when strange events begin occurring inside their home. Lucas eventually suffers an accident after being attacked by a mysterious figure, leaving Annabel to care for the children alone.

Annabel begins to suspect the existence of the figure that Victoria and Lily repeatedly call "Mama." This suspicion is also shared by Dr. Dreyfuss, the psychologist treating the children. His investigation reveals a dark secret hidden behind Mama's presence.

Who is Mama really?

 
Review of Mama

Mama is an expansion of Andy Muschietti's short film of the same name. After the success of the original short film, Muschietti developed the concept into a feature-length movie and made his directorial debut. The film presents an interesting story by exploring the theme of a mother's love and the emotional bond between a parent and child, with the character of Mama becoming the foundation of the story.

The cinematography, camera movements, color composition, and selection of music and sound effects are well executed. The visual effects used to portray Mama are also impressive, creating a figure that feels both mysterious and unsettling.

The performances from the cast are another strong point, especially from the actors portraying Victoria and Lily. Both characters are challenging because they require emotional expression without relying heavily on dialogue. Despite their young age, both actresses deliver convincing performances and successfully portray the psychological condition of their characters.

However, the film still has room for improvement. Expanding a three-minute short film into a nearly two-hour feature is a difficult challenge, and some parts of the story feel rushed. The relationship between Annabel and the children could have been explored further, especially to strengthen the emotional connection that explains Victoria's determination to protect her family.

Another weakness is that some characters do not leave a strong enough impression. The emotional impact of the characters could have been developed more deeply, and the conflicts could have been built with stronger intensity. There is also a small inconsistency regarding Victoria's glasses, which fit perfectly despite never being adjusted or tested.

Overall, Mama remains an interesting supernatural horror film with a strong emotional foundation. Beyond the horror elements, the film explores themes of love, attachment, and the difficulty of letting go.

 

Memorable Scene

Victoria, realizing the danger of her connection with Mama, begins to distance herself from the mysterious figure. However, Lily still maintains a strong bond with Mama. One night, Lily invites Victoria to meet and play with Mama, but Victoria refuses and says, "Victoria stay."

This scene shows Victoria's internal conflict. She wants to return to a normal life, but at the same time, she understands that Mama has been the figure who protected and cared for them. The emotional dilemma is portrayed beautifully, showing that love and fear can exist together.

 
Memorable Dialogue

"You can't do that, 'cause she gets jealous."

 
Ending

Happy Sad Ending

 
Recommendation

Worth to Watch

(Aluna Uwie)

Had been published in Alunauwie.com
"This article was originally written in Indonesian and has been adapted into English for international readers."