Big Mama's house

Rating: 7/10 (28 February 2013)

Mama's getting an unfair reception! I went in with somewhat low expectations giving all the heavily negative reviews from people. Mama wasn't a must-see film for me, it just happened that a red-headed warrior was interested in it. However, I was pleasantly surprised with what I got! Mama immediately grabbed me from its intriguing opening which was also beautifully shot and felt very Spanish so I knew that I was in good hands, directing-wise. The imagery was atmospheric and almost fairytale-like which was apparent from the opening letters, "Once Upon A Time" but don't get too excited because it's not as fairytale related as Pan's Labryinth or Livid. I was also surprised at the amount of suspense in this opening sequence too so once it was over with an effective jump scare, I was at ease.
Mama plays out like a haunted house movie but it has a much deeper story than that. We're introduced to some likable characters and some surprisingly un-annoying child actors! The girls were actually really good and not as wooden as you'd think they'd be. Every scene is filled with tension and I found myself feeling quite scared in some moments, which is unusual for me and was also something I wasn't expecting. The director (don't know his name, some confusing foreign name I gather) certainly knows how to work his audience and I look forward to what he can conjure up next.
Now, if jump scares annoy you for any reason then you might want to give Mama a miss because a lot of the scares rely on jump scares. Nevertheless, these jump scares are extremely well done and the build-up to them is done with nail-biting tension! Mama may only be offering cheap thrills, but they're done in a genuinely scary way and the film does also feature a string of effective and creepy moments which adds to the atmosphere. Mama is never boring either and never forgets its entertainment value or characters. I also found the look of Mama to be quite creepy which is contrary to what a lot of people believe. Sometimes the CGI did look a bit shoddy and some of the floaty effects were over-done, but her face was actually genuinely creepy.
The sound effects were also top-notch and are really but to great use in the cinema. There's a moment where a character goes into the dark cabin and you know Mama's there, but you can't see her, all you can hear are these horrible groans and Grudge-like croaky noises and it's actually very creepy! Granted, Mama uses some clichés such as the old Rear Window flashing camera effect but that also conjures up one of the best jump scares in the film and really does fill the scene with tension. So although clichés are used, they're used effectively and do offer some great entertainment.
Mama can be original too though. There's a really great flash-back sequence which I've never seen the likes off before. It's like an expressionist painting all in the point of view of Mama and it creates a great impact and allows you to gain verstehen for Mama's mysterious character. My only real complaint about the film is that it does lose its way with the ending. Mama stops being creepy because she starts to function too much like a human and we see far too much of her. Everything feels a bit silly and rushed and also gave me vibes of the ending for Hocus Pocus for some reason, which is not good. Don't get me wrong I love Hocus Pocus, but it's a Disney film and I should not be feeling vibes of a Disney film in a serious horror film.
Ending aside, Mama is a great night out. It's not as amazing as Insidious or Sinsiter, but it has an original and interesting idea behind it and is played out in a superiorly creepy way to most ghosty films. Mama always kept me entertained and the tension-filled directing is sure to keep you on edge. The film is full of great atmosphere and imagery which stops it from being another forgettable haunted house movie. I think people are giving Mama an unfair time. I really enjoyed it and so did the people I saw it with. I anticipate what this director has up his sleeves next time!