As a horror movie enthusiast with a soft spot for dark comedies, I must confess that “Ma” left me both shocked and entertained. The character of Sue Ann, played by the brilliant Octavia Spencer, is undeniably one of the most unsettling villains I’ve ever seen on screen. Her inappropriate behavior towards the children and her predator vibes are palpable from the start, making it impossible to root for her, even when we sympathize with her pain.
I love a silly horror film, especially when it embraces the absurd. That’s why some of my favorite films are also some of the best horror comedy movies. I adore a captivating blend of grotesque and hilarity. However, occasionally, it’s hard to differentiate when a horror film is funny by choice or due to the consequence of poorly executed decisions. Ma is a film that I never watched because I initially thought it was a horror comedy and then learned otherwise. Though some may consider it hilarious, it’s not by the film’s choice.
From the early feedback, “Ma” appears to be a straightforward psychological thriller that takes some questionable turns. It gained notoriety for intentionally avoiding humor yet still managing to elicit laughter. The “Ma” memes kept my interest, but I held off on watching it until 2024. To my surprise, watching “Ma” offered a more exhilarating cinematic journey than I had anticipated. Allow me to elaborate.
Warning Ma spoilers are ahead. Proceed with caution.
The Victim Is The Antagonist
In the trailer, it wasn’t entirely clear how far Ma’s (Octavia Spencer) tragic past extended. I knew that something the other teens did likely contributed to her mental breakdown and sparked her quest for revenge. However, what I didn’t anticipate was the depth of her suffering as portrayed in the movie “Ma”. Unlike “Carrie”, where a prank went terribly wrong but remained within the bounds of non-criminal behavior, “Ma” seemed to depict a far more severe form of torment.
The incident involving Sue Ann falls under the category of sexual assault. Although she consented to oral sex, she was deceived and coerced into doing so. Sue Ann believed she was participating in a sexual encounter with her crush, but the students manipulated her into this act with someone else, making it a clear case of non-consensual sexual activity.
The main character, Ma, doesn’t delve deeply into the subject matter, which seems to undermine its importance. None of the grown-up children appear particularly remorseful either. Erica (Juliette Lewis) offers an apology, but it feels insincere or forced. Exploring Ma’s background made me empathize with her. I also felt that the movie exaggerated her villainous traits, which diminished Sue Ann’s relatable qualities. Moreover, Ma’s sexual assault adds a layer of complexity to her character, making her a villain driven by a comprehensible motivation.
Regrettably, Sue Ann’s character in the film “Ma” crosses a line into being overly villainous, which is disappointing given the acting prowess of Octavia Spencer. The movie had the potential to be deeply moving and suspenseful with her talent, perhaps even delivering another outstanding performance by Octavia Spencer.
Rather than adequately addressing the gravity of the event, it appeared as if Ma was using this tragedy primarily as a narrative tool, rather than attempting to convey deep insights about trauma.
But It’s Still Crazy She Has A Beef With Children
It’s indisputable that Sue Ann was a victim of a crime. Yet, this doesn’t excuse her actions. Notably, Sue Ann provoked a feud with children, particularly Maggie (Diana Silvers), whose mother had minimal connection to the events affecting Sue Ann.
In a shift that’s not uncommon for some characters in certain films, Sue Ann transitions from a victim to an antagonist. However, the movie seems to lessen our sympathy towards her by having her harm innocent children. Furthermore, the film appears to encourage viewers to root against Sue Ann, even celebrating when Maggie stabs her. Personally, I didn’t join in the cheers. Instead, I wished for Sue Ann to survive and receive the help she so evidently required.
Additionally, her continued targeting of the parents adds an element of doubt to her actions against the children. If she were solely focusing on the children, her actions might align with the notion that “the sins of the father are visited upon the sons.” However, by also punishing both the teens and their parents, it seems less consistent and impactful in this context.
She seems to want to hurt everyone. It would have felt more biblical if Sue Ann attacked only the younger generation and made the parents suffer that way. Her actions are wrong either way but thematically it makes more sense to hurt the children only. Her beefing with the teens is Ma’s most uncomfortable element.
Ma Was Always Uncomfortable To Watch
Children may exhibit a lack of wisdom or overly trustful nature, which can sometimes be mistaken for stupidity. In the movie “Ma“, the children are made to feel ignorant due to Sue Ann’s suspicious behavior, but they overlook these warning signs for much of the film because she provides them with alcohol and allows them to have parties in her basement. One particularly striking scene in “Ma” involves her compelling Chaz (Gianni Paolo) to disrobe by brandishing a firearm at him.
She says the gun isn’t dangerous, and everyone finds it amusing. However, she inappropriately touches Andy and Darrell on several occasions, which seems suspicious but goes unnoticed by the children. The character of Ma is portrayed in a way that makes it hard to like her, even when you feel sorry for her situation. Spencer does an excellent job playing this role because she creates an unsettling impression from the start. Essentially, Ma never manages to make you want to support Sue Ann.
I Didn’t Expect A Munchausen By Proxy Plot
Individuals familiar with the tale of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, or who have watched the series The Act, are privy to one of the most notorious instances of Munchausen by Proxy, a condition characterized by an individual falsifying or intentionally causing illness in those under their care. It appears that screenwriter Scott Landes for the show Ma may have drawn inspiration from Gypsy Rose’s story, as the narrative about Sue Ann poisoning her daughter, Genie (Tanyell Waivers), to make her sick shares striking similarities with Gypsy’s tale, including the scene where Genie tries to thwart Sue Ann by participating in her murder.
Simply watching the trailer for “The Act,” it’s evident that the movie draws some influence from this widely recognized story. The character of Sue Ann, being quite sinister already, becomes even more malevolent by deliberately causing harm to her own daughter. This additional plotline seems unnecessary yet effectively solidifies Ma as a truly unforgettable villain.
I Found Ma’s Casual Children Torture Mouth-Dropping
As a dedicated gamer, I’ve found myself drawn into a chilling narrative where the pacing is methodical yet menacing. The death scenes aren’t frequent, but boy, are they etched into my memory. The way the story unfolds is truly unsettling, with the torture of children scenes that leave me feeling uncomfortable and haunted. The character Sue Ann, in a twisted turn of events, scars Chaz, turns Darrell entirely white, and sews Haley’s (McKaley Miller) lips shut. Each act is a grim reminder of the darkness lurking within this tale.
Eventually, she goes ahead and kisses Andy, only to subsequently stab him. This scene is quite intense and challenging to view, given that these actors portray teenage characters and appear to be their actual age. In a sense, the film Ma seems to adopt a reckless approach, where actions are taken without much thought about the consequences. While it’s bold to fully immerse oneself in chaos for the sake of the plot, this choice also makes the viewing experience uncomfortable and distressing.
The Memes From The Film Are Crazier With Context
Among the most renowned memes derived from the movie are the “Ma’s Listening” and “Chaz to Strip” memes. It’s become even more amusing to understand the entirety of these scenes, particularly the covert listening one. The fact that Sue Ann took delight in deceiving children by giving them alcohol adds an extra layer of humor to these memes once you know their full context.
Ma exceeds expectations in terms of its eccentricity, making it an engaging watch on Hulu currently. Though it’s over-the-top in a deliberate way, the committed performances prevent it from slipping into parody. In essence, I strongly recommend watching Ma at least once for an unusual yet captivating experience.
Stream Ma on Hulu.
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2024-10-30 16:07