Mama (2013)
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Two girls abandoned in a forest cabin are protected by a mysterious entity they call 'Mama' after their father's death.
The story
After a stockbroker's desperate actions lead to a tragic accident, his two young daughters are left alone in a remote forest cabin. They are discovered years later and taken in by a man who is their uncle. The girls are cared for in a facility where they are treated for the trauma of their isolation. During their recovery, the girls refer to a mysterious maternal protector they call 'Mama.' As the girls are moved into a new home with their uncle and his girlfriend, the presence of 'Mama' begins to manifest in their new environment, creating a tense situation for the adults trying to protect them.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following a financial crisis, stockbroker Jeffrey Desange murders his family and children before crashing his car and leaving the girls in a cabin. He is killed by a mysterious figure. Five years later, his twin brother Lucas finds the girls, who are feral and refer to a protector named 'Mama.' They are placed in a clinic under Dr. Dreyfuss. Lucas and his girlfriend Annabel move in with the girls. While Victoria adapts, Lily remains feral. Annabel becomes alarmed by visions and Victoria's warnings about 'Mama.' Dreyfuss's research reveals the truth: 'Mama' is the ghost of Edith Brennan, a woman who died in the 1800s after her child was taken by nuns. She found the girls and took them as surrogates. After Lucas recovers from a coma, the truth of the ghost's identity is revealed. Dreyfuss is killed by Mama, who then attacks the household. Annabel and Lucas eventually find the children on a cliff. Annabel offers the remains of Edith's real child to the ghost. Mama briefly turns human but reverts to a monster when Lily calls her. Victoria chooses to stay with Annabel, and Mama and Lily fall off the cliff together, becoming spirits joined in a swarm of moths.
- First release year
- 2013
- Runtime (minutes)
- 100
- Production countries
- Canada; Spain
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Andy Muschietti
- Writers
- Neil Cross · screenplay; Andy Muschietti · screenplay; Barbara Muschietti · screenplay; Andy Muschietti · story; Barbara Muschietti · story
- Cast and characters
- Jessica Chastain · Annabel "Annie"; Nikolaj Coster-Waldau · Lucas "Luke" Desange and Jeffrey Desange; Megan Charpentier · Victoria Desange; Morgan McGarry · Young Victoria; Isabelle Nélisse · Lily Desange; Maya and Sierra Dawe · Young Lily; Daniel Kash · Dr. Gerald Dreyfuss; Javier Botet · Mama
- Genres
- supernatural horror
- Themes
- maternal protection; trauma; supernatural guardianship
- Tone and mood
- eerie; spectral; fairytale-like
- Premise and plot tags
- ghost story; abandoned cabin; supernatural
- Source material / true-story basis
- Mamá (2008 Argentine short film)
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, though its story was criticized, and was a box office success.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 63% · scale: approval rating · review count: 166; Metacritic · score: 57 · scale: 100 · review count: 35; CinemaScore · score: B- · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film was initially scheduled for release in October 2012 but was moved to January to avoid competing with Paranormal Activity 4.; Much of the Mama character was filmed practically using a wire rig and a performer's limbs were tugged at random times.; The film's success at its later release date helped convince studios to start opening horror movies year-round.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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