Ma

Universal Pictures | Release Date: May 31, 2019

5.4	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 117 Ratings

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User Reviews

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Compi24Jun 4, 2019

Try as she might, not even the likes of Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer can save this thriller from the doldrums of mundanity. See, for me, it's the approach that's all wrong with this one, with the film's deceptive marketing campaignTry as she might, not even the likes of Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer can save this thriller from the doldrums of mundanity. See, for me, it's the approach that's all wrong with this one, with the film's deceptive marketing campaign offering up a far more campy and fun ride than the one you end up getting. "Ma" is awkward, sporadically thrilling and lacking in any characters you care about, ultimately rendering the overall experience feeling empty and bare. Even the appropriately committed performance from Spencer as the titular character is undone by the mere fact that the script and direction isn't anywhere near as enthusiastic as she is about all of this. In short, "Ma" is a tremendous waste of potential on almost all fronts, but a moderately watchable one at that.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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JLuis_001Jun 4, 2019

Perhaps on paper the story might have sounded a lot much interesting but its execution is merely mediocre.
Most of the teen characters are disposable to the maximum while Octavia Spencer can do little with what the story offers. I will notPerhaps on paper the story might have sounded a lot much interesting but its execution is merely mediocre.
Most of the teen characters are disposable to the maximum while Octavia Spencer can do little with what the story offers. I will not deny that she tries to make the character more disturbing, but she can only take the work alone to a certain stretch.

Disappointing not because of my expectations, because I didn't have any but because its offer doesn't compensate for the time invested.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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TVJerryJun 8, 2019

Oscar winner Octavia Spencer must have looked forward to having a chance to be evil, but even her acting skills can't elevate this mediocre suspense film. She plays a lonely woman with issues, who invites a group of high schoolers to comeOscar winner Octavia Spencer must have looked forward to having a chance to be evil, but even her acting skills can't elevate this mediocre suspense film. She plays a lonely woman with issues, who invites a group of high schoolers to come over and party in her basement. Obviously, things turn dark before it's over, but it takes too long and the payoff isn't worth the wait. None of the cast was bad and Spencer does her best to reflect the ghosts from her past, but the script or direction aren't strong enuff to carry the load. Interestingly, another Oscar winner (Allison Janney) has a smallish role.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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Trineo99Jun 2, 2019

First of all, Octavia Spencer is great as Ma. She easily switched from being that nice old lady who lives next door to that psycho killer next door in a matter of seconds. She was probably the only good thing in this movie. All of the otherFirst of all, Octavia Spencer is great as Ma. She easily switched from being that nice old lady who lives next door to that psycho killer next door in a matter of seconds. She was probably the only good thing in this movie. All of the other actors you could tell were trying their best with what they were given but it just ended up being really boring to watch. Diana Silvers was probably the best one out of all of them. Now, I’m not going to put all the blame on the actors for this because even though this movie is one hour and thirty-nine minutes long it feels like a two-hour long movie. The film feels really slow throughout the entire first act and doesn’t pick up speed until the last little bit. This wouldn’t be a problem if there was something interesting going on but there wasn’t. The characters were either at Ma’s house or doing something in their everyday lives and this isn’t a spoiler because it’s in the trailer. I feel like this film would have been better as a short film than a full feature-length film. A lot of the scenes in this movie also just awkwardly ended with no purpose. One thing I do want to mention is that if you are interested in watching this movie do not watch the trailer because the trailer spoils pretty much everything in the movie. I will not say what scene from the trailer it is, even though if you watch it you can easily figure it out, gives away the entire ending to this movie. In the end, this movie really isn’t worth a watch because the trailer spoils it and it’s only worth watching for the last 10 to 15 minutes. I give Ma a 5.5/10.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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GrantD243Sep 4, 2019

Ma succeeds in its goal of being an entertaining popcorn flick. Octavia Spencer plays a damn good scary lady, but the motivation behind her character's sudden "snap" is a little too unbelievable for me, and the climax of the story wasn'tMa succeeds in its goal of being an entertaining popcorn flick. Octavia Spencer plays a damn good scary lady, but the motivation behind her character's sudden "snap" is a little too unbelievable for me, and the climax of the story wasn't quite as wild as I was hoping it to be. Still entertaining, but nothing more than an afternoon watch.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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tropicAcesMay 31, 2019

Just one of those films that didn’t work for me. Nothing against Spencer, she seems to be having a ball, but the pacing and reveals are so sluggish that by the time things get interesting you’ve already checked out; this movie is 99 minutesJust one of those films that didn’t work for me. Nothing against Spencer, she seems to be having a ball, but the pacing and reveals are so sluggish that by the time things get interesting you’ve already checked out; this movie is 99 minutes but feels like over two hours.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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Rebecca31Jun 10, 2019

I haven’t lost my marbles, I know Ma is terrible but it’s also a little bit hilarious and it’s got Octavia Spencer as the severely unhinged Ma so you could do worse. We’re in a bit of a lull period at the moment and sure you can go see thisI haven’t lost my marbles, I know Ma is terrible but it’s also a little bit hilarious and it’s got Octavia Spencer as the severely unhinged Ma so you could do worse. We’re in a bit of a lull period at the moment and sure you can go see this month’s mediocre blockbusters Godzilla 2 or Dark Phoenix or see a mediocre horror/thriller/doesn’t really know what genre it wants to be and see Ma instead.

Sue Ann (Octavia Spencer) is a bit of a loner, a little bit strange but when asked by a group of teenagers to buy them alcohol not only does she help them but she gives them a chance to drink in the “safety” of her basement. This quickly becomes the new hotspot for all the local teenagers to party and drink and Ma is loving the attention and new friends, and that’s right around the time her behaviour starts to become a tad bit obsessive and erratic which then starts to descend into psychotic, **** crazy and roll credits. I would expect nothing less of Octavia Spencer, she brings her A game to a film with a generic and predictable plot and I can’t say the same for anyone else. Ma is only mildly better than your average painfully annoying teenager horror flick (Truth or Dare & Unfriended immediately spring to mind) and honestly that’s only down to Spencer’s performance. She single-handedly carries this movie into watchable territory so at least I came out of Ma not feeling like I wasted the last hour and a half. Another bonus is Luke Evans and Allison Janney, in what is essentially a cameo role, I’m not sure why they’re even in this film to be honest but hey I’m not complaining. The film itself does not offer anything new into the horror/thriller genre. It’s painfully dull at times but for some of you it should give you a few laughs for all the wrong reasons. Recommended for the horror fans who have nothing else to see at the moment.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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onehonestcriticJun 2, 2019

Ma is well-written and superbly acted. While the elements of horror are on full display, the story is believable. It is not a great film, however. There are some issues with pacing and suspense. The movie could have been better if it delved aMa is well-written and superbly acted. While the elements of horror are on full display, the story is believable. It is not a great film, however. There are some issues with pacing and suspense. The movie could have been better if it delved a little more into the backstory, spent a little more time on character development, and allowed the story to unfold unhurriedly. Nonetheless, if you are on fence, I would recommend seeing it.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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zombox5000Jan 14, 2021

While there are certainly creepy moments in this film, the whole plot and story is very strained and hard to buy into. Some of the key actors aren't up to snuff to carry their role, better actors are featured in secondary positions in theWhile there are certainly creepy moments in this film, the whole plot and story is very strained and hard to buy into. Some of the key actors aren't up to snuff to carry their role, better actors are featured in secondary positions in the film. I'd only recommend this if you don't have anything to watch and like horror a lot more than the average person.… Expand