Short Attention Span Review - Ma (2019)

Short Attention Span Review - Ma (2019)

Ma is an offbeat horror movie born of an offbeat premise.  No zombies, no killers sporting masks, no vampires, werewolves, or witches.  Just a lonely woman who offers up her home as a safe haven for some fun-loving teens looking for kicks in small-town America.  Only there's more to Ma than meets the eye, and this alleged safe haven is actually anything but.  Octavia Spencer is fully invested in the title role, and it is her devotion that makes this Blumhouse production from 2019 as effective as it is peculiar.  Spencer isn't alone, with a talented crop of youngsters ably supported by skilled vets like Juliette Lewis and Luke Evans.  This is one of those methodical yarns that slowly builds to a crescendo, but it entertains from the start.  In fact, by my estimation, the first third dishes out as many laughs as jolts.  However, as things grow more ominous and our unlikely host's gonzo ways veer toward a surprising darkness, Ma emerges as an innovative horror film with a lot to say.  It is a safe bet that anyone looking for a body count or a potent gore factor won't find much to enjoy here.  It is also fair to question much of the character logic, though need and convenience often breed such naive choices, particularly where youth is concerned.  All that said, fright fans who want to watch something off the beaten path that isn't some sort of surreal essay in dementia may just have a blast with Ma.  I think it's neat to see something fresh and utterly devoid of the staples we know and love, and even if Ma is no masterpiece, it is a lively left turn.

Final Grade: B

In a strange movie, Octavia Spencer makes the most of a strange part.   The end result is fun, and, well, more than a little strange.