‘Ma’ (2019): See it because of Octavia Spencer (review)

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2019 Psychological thriller “Ma,” directed by Tate Taylor with directorial duties fulfilled by Scotty Landes begins with an engaging enough premise. But what starts as a promising idea squanders much of its intrigue. A marvelous performance by Octavia Spencer redeems “Ma,” though it’s not the powerhouse if could have been.
Teenaged Maggie Thompson (Diana Silvers) and her mother Erica (Juliette Lewis) move back to Erica’s hometown in Ohio after her husband leaves. Maggie attends her mother’s old high school, befriending Andy Hawkins (Corey Fogelmanis), Chaz (Gianni Paolo), Haley (McKaley Miller) and Darrell (Dante Brown). Many of their parents, including Andy’s father Ben (Luke Evans), attended high school with Erica. The group successfully persuades veterinary technician Sue Ann Ellington (Spencer) into buying the underage teens alcohol, but Sue Ann anonymously reports the bunch to the police. Afterward, Ellington offers Maggie, Andy, Darrell, Haley, and Chaz a safe place to imbibe: her basement.

Initially, Sue Ann appears inviting enough. She allows the teens to use her basement for partying, insisting that if they’re going to drink, she’d prefer them to rage safely. Further fostering a welcoming atmosphere, Sue Ellen demands that the teens call her “Ma.” However, Sue Ann’s apparent welcoming attitude morphs into annoying clinginess, then creepy attachment. The mystery continues when Maggie and Haley discover that Ellington has a daughter, Genie (Tanyell Waivers), seemingly suffering from a strange medical ailment.

“Ma” begins with loads of potential, disappointingly wasting most of it. As the film progresses, it becomes clear that it’s a revenge porn flick, cleverly told through a series of flashbacks. This serves to explain Sue Ann’s murderous tendencies, and somewhat humanizes her character. Unfortunately, it’s pretty telegraphed. Moreover, there’s a racial undertone which gets largely ignored aside from a small bit during the gruesome finale when Sue Ellen paints African American Darrell’s face white, commenting “There’s only room for one of us.”

Furthermore, most characters are pretty one-dimensional. Ben Hawkins, the unlikable successful businessman. There’s Mercedes (Missi Pyle), Ben’s girlfriend. Even side characters such as the pastor’s daughter Ashley (Heather Marie Pate) who pretends to sleep through parties at Ma’s house. Thankfully, Octavia Spener delivers a tour de force performance as Sue Ann that at once disgusts while remaining a somewhat sympathetic character. Despite Ma’s backstory, it’s still difficult to completely justify her actions, especially considering the horrific nature of her revenge plot. But it’s deliciously entertaining watching Spencer finally assume the lead in a film, a much-deserved role, and moreover break out of the sweet character she’s previously been typecast as.

Spencer’s performance largely compensates from the glaring flaws rampant throughout “Ma.” It doesn’t quite redeem the film and its underdeveloped racial undertones, cliche characters, or predictable plot. As a revenge thriller, 2019 horror film “Ma” fails to deliver the emotional wallop of genre-defining flicks such as “The Last House on the Left.” Nevertheless, it’s an enjoyable enough romp.