Tate Taylor and Octavia Spencer first joined forces in 2011 on The Help and it was a pairing that would result in the latter earning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. They have reunited in Ma, a film that couldn’t live on a further end of the storytelling spectrum.
Spencer is Sue Ann, a lonely veterinary technician who winds up helping a group of teens secure alcohol and then takes it a step further and allows them to party in her basement. At first, things are great … a blast in fact! For anyone who remembers what it’s like to be a teenager seeking to let off a little steam and do so in a locale far from the prying eyes of the police or parents, Sue Ann has given these high school kids a little slice of heaven. Subtlety, but surely, Ma’s (the nickname they give her) turns into a large bit of hell.
Ma lulls you into his realm by commencing from the perspective of the teens who are merely looking for a good time—as teenagers are prone to do. Our entrance into the frightening folly lies through the eyes of Maggie (Diana Silvers). She and her mom Erica (Juliette Lewis) have moved from San Diego to this nameless small town after dad/husband left them for another woman. Seeking a fresh start in a more affordable community and someplace far away from years of memories that are now painful, Erica and her daughter are in good spirits and hopeful for something positive to arise from something so heartbreaking.
Almost immediately Maggie is taken in by a group of friends that are sincere, endearingly friendly and overtly welcoming. Haley (McKaley Miller), Andy (Corey Fogelmanis), Chaz (Gianni Paolo) and Darrell (Dante Brown). The quintet park outside a liquor store with hopes of convincing some random soul walking by to buy them some liquor. After a steady stream of noes and each of the pals taking turns doing the asking, it is our newbie who scores when Sue Ann walks by in her vet scrubs on her way home from work. She agrees and the gang is stoked, to say the least.
How the crew winds up partying in Ma’s basement arises from a serious stroke of manipulation at the hands of our titular character—all unbeknownst to Maggie and her new pals. Upon a return visit to that liquor store and finding Ma once again, she makes their night by purchasing booze and takes it a step further. Instead of going to some random spot, or worse drinking while cruising in Andy’s van, Sue Ann proposes that they follow her to isolated house where the fab five can have full run in her basement to drink, smoke pot … whatever floats their collective boats.
Ma becomes quite the celebrity among the high school set as word travels fast that her pad is prime party time. The not by her choice loner is relishing in her new present, and easily forgets her painful past that somehow connects her to many of the teens who frequent her basement fetes and their parents. When Ma starts to show signs of an altered mental state, the crew pulls back.
That makes matters worse.
This film could have fallen into any number of stereotypical tropes of the horror/thriller/stalker milieu, but between Taylor’s rich directorial experience and Blumhouse’s expertly experienced production team. They not only know how to bring in movies in their renowned low(er) budget to high profit ratio, but also craft thrillers that stand uniquely in their tone, subject matters and appeal. Taylor, amongst his many storytelling gifts (The Girl on the Train, Get on Up), has the most treasured of short hands with Spencer. What he gets from the Oscar winner in Ma is nothing short of a seismic shock to the system.
There is a lot to tribute the Oscar winner when it comes to her performance. Spencer’s character has an interesting enough arc, but what it is that reverberates so intensely is how Sue Ann can turn her emotive output on a dime. It’s frankly terrifying and thus, devilishly delightful to witness. Cross her or do something out of line and she goes from maternal Ma to menacing Ma in a heartbeat. For example, she has one rule for the parties in her basement. Don’t come upstairs. When Haley and Maggie can’t wait for a couple to get out of the basement bathroom (what on earth could they be doing, wink, wink), the ladies head upstairs. When Ma discovers them, she practically throws them against the wall.
Silvers was clearly not intimidated by her task of sharing scenes with an Oscar winning actress. The young thespian is stellar. She essentially carries the crux of the film on her shoulders as the protagonist to Spencer’s antagonist. These two are on a collision course and from an acting appreciator point of view, it is joyous to watch these fireworks pop. If one gets the sense that this is a performer with a bright future, you would not be wrong. Silvers is coming off her innovative performance in Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut, the grade “A” Booksmart. The camera adores her. Couple that with the actress’ innate filmmaking sense and it adds up to a screen presence that commands our attention and appreciation. Keep your eyes on her, special things are coming.
It’s nice to see Lewis getting more than a few seconds in a film. There are some notable scenes where the veteran actress is just as explosive as Spencer. It’s just in a different manner, such as the classic protective parent angle. Oh, and there’s my favorite, that age old disappointed and ticked off about it parental mode!
Ma won’t go down in the pages of Hollywood history, but then again the percentage of releases that do is so infinitesimally small. What the flick does achieve is provide a showcase for two fine actresses whose onscreen tussle produces one absolute winner—audiences who appreciate women working their acting wizardry. It is one of those horror/thriller movies that if you look too closely under the hood, it would be easy to pick it apart its more minute details. One involves the entire premise of the movie and how it gives Spencer her “motivation” for what she does with and to these kids. But it’s summer movie season and we can be a little looser with the criticism when a film delivers the fun factor. So, grab a bucket of popcorn and prepare to check in to Ma’s.
Grade: B-