After a young couple take in their two nieces, they suspect that a supernatural spirit named Mama has latched onto their family.After a young couple take in their two nieces, they suspect that a supernatural spirit named Mama has latched onto their family.After a young couple take in their two nieces, they suspect that a supernatural spirit named Mama has latched onto their family.
- Awards
- 11 wins & 19 nominations
Isabelle Nélisse
- Lilly
- (as Isabelle Nelisse)
Christopher Marren
- Cop
- (as Chris Marren)
Jessica Chastain Through the Years
Jessica Chastain Through the Years
Take a look back at Jessica Chastain's movie career in photos.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIsabelle Nélisse can't speak English, which is why she's not given much dialogue and speaks more with body language.
- GoofsWhen Annabel hears the girls playing, she goes into their room to tell them how late it is and to go to sleep - but it's light outside. There are about 3 other times when it's supposedly nighttime and the light is streaming in through the windows.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #21.87 (2013)
- SoundtracksMissing Pieces
® 2012 by Third String Tunes/EMI Music Publishing Ltd.
Edición autorizada para España a EMI Music Publishing Spain S.A.
All rights reserved. International Copyright secured.
Performed by Jack White
Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment España, S.L.
Courtesy of XL Recordings Ltd
By arrangement with Beggars Group Media Limited
Featured review
Not Flawless, But Better Than Average Horror
Annabel (Jessica Chastain) and Lucas are faced with the challenge of raising his young nieces that were left alone in the forest for 5 years.... but how alone were they?
I am very conflicted on this film. While overall I have to say I liked it, and thought it was one of the better horror films I have seen recently, it is not without its flaws. For one thing, I found Jessica Chastain as a punk rocker a bit hard to swallow (though she pulled it off better than Kristen Stewart trying to be Joan Jett). I also think that they showed the CG a bit too much. Not that it was terrible by CG standards, but one of the keys to a good monster is not showing it...
Those criticisms aside, this was a generally good film. The atmosphere was eerie, there were some good jump scares, the little girls (especially the younger of the two) were phenomenal actresses... and I am pleased they made this PG-13 rather than R because the focus was on the mood and not the language or sexuality (which would be quite inappropriate considering this is still basically a story about kids).
I loved the look of the flashback scene. The style was excellent. Again, I have to bring up the CG -- I would rather they never used any at all, but the people who did it made it look decent. Not perfect, but pretty good. Better than in other contemporary horror or fantasy releases.
The story of the doctor and his searches... that part left me unsure of how I felt. I got the impression that the heart and soul of the story is built around the two girls and the creepiness of the Mama ghost. The doctor seemed like he was added just to push it from a short film to 100 minutes. Not that this is a bad thing, but was it crucial? Was it maybe better as a short film? Hard to say.
I am very conflicted on this film. While overall I have to say I liked it, and thought it was one of the better horror films I have seen recently, it is not without its flaws. For one thing, I found Jessica Chastain as a punk rocker a bit hard to swallow (though she pulled it off better than Kristen Stewart trying to be Joan Jett). I also think that they showed the CG a bit too much. Not that it was terrible by CG standards, but one of the keys to a good monster is not showing it...
Those criticisms aside, this was a generally good film. The atmosphere was eerie, there were some good jump scares, the little girls (especially the younger of the two) were phenomenal actresses... and I am pleased they made this PG-13 rather than R because the focus was on the mood and not the language or sexuality (which would be quite inappropriate considering this is still basically a story about kids).
I loved the look of the flashback scene. The style was excellent. Again, I have to bring up the CG -- I would rather they never used any at all, but the people who did it made it look decent. Not perfect, but pretty good. Better than in other contemporary horror or fantasy releases.
The story of the doctor and his searches... that part left me unsure of how I felt. I got the impression that the heart and soul of the story is built around the two girls and the creepiness of the Mama ghost. The doctor seemed like he was added just to push it from a short film to 100 minutes. Not that this is a bad thing, but was it crucial? Was it maybe better as a short film? Hard to say.
helpful•61
- gavin6942
- Apr 24, 2013
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $15,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $71,628,180
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $28,402,310
- Jan 20, 2013
- Gross worldwide
- $146,428,180
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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