Flawed but compelling.

Rating: 6/10 (16 October 2014)

Guillermo del Toro presents and executive produces this decent psychological horror film, expanded from a three minute short by its co-writer / director Andres Muschietti. Muschietti manages to create a somber and creepy mood throughout. He's crafted a fairly touching story, and he gets very fine performances out of both his adult and child actors. The atmosphere is excellent at times, but what really works against his efforts is the overload of visual effects. They really help to kill the mystery. Also, some genre fans are likely to be less than pleased with Muschietti opting to go for the jump scare as often as he does. The result is a mildly entertaining horror film that falls short of its full potential.
The versatile Jessica Chastain is solid as a rocker chick named Annabel - she plays bass - who's involved with Lucas (Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau). Lucas is uncle to two adorable little girls, who were taken into the wilderness by their unhinged father (also played by Coaster-Waldau). Dad has already committed a few murders and looks like he will add his daughters to the list before *something* snatches him. Five years later, the girls are finally found, and having lived in the country for so long, have become quite feral. With the help of a dedicated psychiatrist, Dr. Dreyfuss (Daniel Kash), they become somewhat readjusted to normal life. However, Annabel becomes convinced that some sort of presence has returned with the girls, who claim to have been acquainted with a character whom they merely dub Mama.
Some viewers feel that for whatever Muschietti is able to accomplish, he blows it with that finale, which admittedly disregards anything resembling subtlety. Still, there is an emotional centre to this film that makes it hard to completely dislike. The director really goes for broke with his imagery, using moths as a motif. Coaster-Waldau is likable as the uncle, who does some sleuthing, as does the good doctor. (It is nice to see Kash, who played Spunkmeyer in "Aliens" 28 years ago, in a major supporting such as this.) Megan Charpentier as Victoria and Isabelle Nelisse as Lilly are both appealing in the child roles.
"Mama" isn't exempt from trappings of the genre film, such as questionable character decisions, but all in all it's a reasonably affecting experience.
Six out of 10.