Recently, filmmakers now and then try to scare the viewer, in most cases not very successfully, then creating projects based on failed ideas that do not catch either the plot or the characters, then using once “shot” a successful horror product, they are taken to speculate with the topic, releasing an endless number of sequels, triquels and other “-quels”, sucking out the remains of a possible development of events and money from the pockets of gullible film lovers. But only individual representatives of this genre orientation can become bright, interesting, frightening and forcing to sit in front of the screen in tension from the beginning to the final credits, a work. "Mother" was just that for me.
It is not surprising that the film turned out to be extraordinary and original, because a man who proved by his previous works that the cinema of this genre can be not only frightening, but also fascinating, meaningful, unusual, and the name of this person is Guillermo Del Toro. Often, horror films are reduced to attempts to banally intimidate the viewer, without bothering to work out the plot in detail, create an interesting and at least remotely plausible background of events and heroes, the result is something akin to the attraction in which people traveling through a dark tunnel in a cart on wheels are subjected to “unexpected” attacks of plastic monsters popping up from dark corners. Although I have never been to such a place, I still imagine what awaits me there and therefore it all looks disposable and predictable.
In the case of this film, you seem to be thrown into a maze of blindfolded caves, and it is impossible to get out of it yourself. And only the "master of the dungeon" will lead you to the light, according to the paths known only to him. It is extremely difficult to predict the plot moves, and if you still undertake to do this, the denouement will vividly demonstrate the fallacy of your assumptions. And that, in my opinion, is the whole "salt" of a good movie.
I cannot help but focus on the cast that took part in the creation of this work. Literally everyone is good. To be honest, I did not recognize Jessica Chastain at first, a rather vivid image once again became proof of the versatility of her talent. And another very important point that directly affects the quality of horror in which children are involved is, in fact, young actors. Everything is perfect here. Wonderfully played images, make you believe in what is happening, regardless of the awareness of its “fairytale”. The girls showed such a level of acting skills, to which a number of star "ladies" need to grow, despite their mature age. The Mother herself deserves special attention, the image of which causes ambiguous emotions in the viewer, then frightening, then inspiring respect, then even at some point causing sympathy.
Overall, the movie was successful. Moreover, personally, I would call him the best representative of the genre of the last year, or even two.
"Mom" is a stunning and very vivid indicator of how a real horror film should look, when watching which goosebumps with fear should appear on the skin. Of course, there are small elements of fantasy in the film, but this does not spoil the film at all, but rather, on the contrary, gives it an extraordinary taste.
Honestly, I'm skeptical about ghost movies, supernatural forces and other nonsense. Sometimes even such films do not scare, but only cause laughter in the audience. But "Mom" really hooked me. Unlike most other similar films, here is just the very highlight that catches such films.
I really liked the story. From the very first minutes of the film makes you completely plunge into your story, which got our main characters. Also, the atmosphere in the film is perfectly sustained, not letting the viewer get bored!
The acting game is at a fairly high level. Especially pleased with the youngest actresses. At such a young age, they showed a very bright and excellent game, which is why it was quite interesting to watch them. Definitely, all actors deserve praise from the audience!
I would also like to say a few words about my mother’s ghost. It is obvious that the creators did not spare money to create a ghost. Mother turned out to be very spectacular and spectacular. In most episodes, when I saw a ghost, I had a feeling of fear and horror, thereby leaving only positive emotions!
Mama is one of the few ghost horror films that can really scare most viewers. The Spaniards once again amaze us with their literate creativity! And I think American directors have a lot to learn from Spanish cinema.
10 out of 10
I like the atmosphere in Guillermo del Toro’s films. Gothic, creepy and interesting creatures, unusual worlds and a palette of colors that are perfectly combined in these films. To be honest, this is not the best picture in its genre. It is worth paying tribute to the atmosphere, good actors and music. But, in general, this is a movie for one-time viewing. Is this movie scary? Sometimes he's creepy. There are unexpected moments. In general, there are a lot of pictures worse. Although, if you watch this picture alone and at night, the effect will be positive. However, the banal stupidity of the main characters again leads to a stupor. The doctor must go alone to an abandoned house and wander there in the middle of the night. However, all adults here sometimes behave worse than stupid children. But, these moments are everywhere now, so I will not focus on them. I want to tell you about Mom herself. To be honest, it wasn’t so scary. Yeah, and it's only good at the end. You could have done better on the monster. But, a good musical accompaniment conveys the desired atmosphere and catches up with horror. There is not much to write about actors here. I’ll celebrate the beautiful Jessica Chastain who played very well here. Her character turned out to be interesting, memorable and colorful. On it, in fact, and holds most of the tape. I like the girls who are actors. Megan Charpentier and Isabel Neliss convincingly played their heroines, the behavior of which is the main intrigue of horror. Nikolai Coster-Waldau was also not superfluous, but he has little screen time. Moreover, he spent a good part of the film in the hospital, and he failed to reveal his character completely. There is nothing to say about the other actors. The secondary characters were slurred and boring.
In general, this picture is perfect for a one-time viewing at home. Nothing unusual to expect from her. Just turn on this movie at night and enjoy watching. I suggest you check it out at your leisure. Enjoy your visit.
After the murder of his wife, a young man named Jeffrey (Nicholas Coster-Waldau) takes his two daughters with him, but because of the ice, his car gets into an accident. After finding refuge in an abandoned house, Jeffrey is desperate to kill his children and then commit suicide, but the evil ghost kills Jeffrey and takes care of the little girls for five years. When Jeffrey’s brother and girlfriend Annabelle (Jessica Chastain) find the girls, the ghost has no intention of leaving their girls behind. . .
Sometime in 2008, an unknown director Andres Muschietti made a frightening short film “Mama”, director Guillermo del Toro liked the short film very much, and he decided to help Andresa Muschietti make it a full-fledged film.
Debutant Andrese Muschietti actually got an atmospheric picture, where most of the success lies with the girls who played their roles perfectly. Of course, the picture is replete with all sorts of plot cliches, and it scares her rarely, probably a couple of effects on the whole film, and the mother herself does not look so scary, the fault of poor computer graphics. You could make your mother scary, take some actress and make up terribly, and not look at this mediocre computer special effect.
But for all its shortcomings, the picture looks with unquenchable interest and after viewing all these plot cliches, in general, not so much and annoying. The film itself looks no longer a horror, but a Gothic fairy tale, in which there is a small share of drama and the tragedy of the story of the children themselves and the terrible mother. And if the director focused his attention on the dramatic line, it would be a flawless film, like the same “Shelter”. Indeed, the film “Mother” is a mix of “Shelter” and “Don’t be afraid of the dark”, which are also the production work of Guillermo del Toro. Even the stylization of these films is very similar.
Excessively popular actress Jessica Chastain in the film plays a rocker who initially (the scene with a pregnancy test) did not think about children, and she did not need them. Even after the girls were found and they began to live together, the heroine Chastain tries to contact them as little as possible, but it is the mystical events that awaken real maternal feelings in the heroine and in the end she is ready to do anything to protect her own girls.
Bottom line: For all its shortcomings, the picture is very interesting and interesting. The main advantage of the film is of course children and Gothic entourage.
Perhaps there is no such genre as a horror film that would not be actively criticized by both professional critics and the average viewer. Thus, completely discouraging the desire of filmmakers to create in the genre where the level of risk exceeds reasonable limits. In this regard, young and ambitious debutants are coming to the rescue, which in this case can be considered the director of this film Andres Muschietti. Perhaps even he himself did not expect that his short work of the same name with a bare skeleton and the absence of any history in the future will be able to acquire a full-length character and volume. But even that doesn't attract attention. Rather, the prefix "Guillermo Del Toro represents ..." . in the credits or on a poster, which has long been the best way to attract viewers to watch a movie. Especially this genre, in which the gloomy storyteller Del Toro "eat a dog" as a producer.
In fact, not all expectations set after watching the trailer were met. However, it would be a crime to say that Muschetti made a bad film. Not at all. That’s what infuriates modern horror films, so the abundance of excessively bloody and cruel violence, naked tits and glossy pictures. In this case, the film "Muschetti" maximally departs from the usual understanding of youth horror and manifests itself more adultly, seriously and dramatically rich. Like on the screen a real dramatic canvas, and not another representative of genre cinema.
However, without spectacular scenes could not do and then the film looks cheerful. Of course, it is difficult to call them especially terrible and the number of them was a little small, but these scenes adequately introduce the viewer into a state of tension, secrets, intrigue and thereby stimulate interest. Including the luxurious CGI animation of Mama, which brings to the absolute luxurious play of actor Javier Boteta.
This is not taken away from the works Del Toro, so certain destruction of the known stamps and templates of the genre. After all, if in fact filmmakers shoot too genre films with banal ideas for the genre, then Del Toro always creates fairy tales. Perhaps cruel, bloody and sometimes frightening, but fairy tales with all their quirks. This film is no exception to the rule. In these works, the emphasis is not on fiction, but rather on the reflection of real life on the screen. Unless, without denying the fact that we are surrounded by not always explainable and fabulous creatures, which we may not even guess.
It is amazing what shape this project acquired from a very modest 3-minute project. Where there was no mythology, no history, no legend. Only a bare skeleton and a sense of ambitious statement, which is fully embodied by the creators of the film in this project. The very origin of the “mother” and its history, the creators revealed simply magnificently.
Including all the key characters. I especially liked what metamorphosis touched the main character, who from a woman who does not want to grow up and have children, suddenly became a real model mother who accepted other people's children as her own. And in general, history captivates with its dramatic content, which allows you to look at history very objectively and without strict condemnations. They say these people are bad, and this dirty aunt with strange hair is bad. All are victims and all need salvation. But not everyone has been saved. The bad thing is that in the genre sense, the plot develops very traditionally and without any sharp surprises. Including in terms of the final, which in principle was expected.
Nikolai Koster Waldau became a real discovery for me after Head Hunters and the insanely popular now series Game of Thrones. It would seem that these two projects gave birth to a very charismatic actor with a very interesting appearance on the screen.
Perhaps this is what he became the perfect couple for Jessica Chastain, who can be safely called one of the most talented and powerful actresses of our time. Together, both actors played their roles above all praise. Especially Chestain, which in addition appeared on the screen in a very unexpected visual image. I never expected to see her in this way and I never thought I would see her in a horror movie, but she once again gave a very strong, emotionally intense and incredibly natural image. For which I am personally ready to applaud her standing.
Also pleased young Megan Charpentier and Isabel Neliss, who managed to convincingly convey all the curiosity of their characters. Especially Isabel. Well, naturally low bow Javier Botet, which is incredibly skinny physique once again made surprised that the screen actor, and not full-fledged animation. Not such a grandiose work as in “Report”, but deserves a standing ovation for sure.
The musical accompaniment of the tape turned out to be ideal for what is happening on the screen. I am also pleased that it is very difficult to call the work of the composer Fernando Velázquez traditional music for horror. Given the fact that we are first of all a fairy tale, and only then a horror film, it is not surprising that the music has acquired a certain Gothic, slightly frightening and gloomy sound in the best traditions of Danny Elfman’s works. As if perfectly combining much-needed music from the point of view of the genre with some fabulous sound.
8 out of 10
Mom is primarily a dark and frightening fairy tale within the framework of a dramatic canvas, and only then a very genre horror film. Not everyone will appreciate this arrangement, but as for me, before us is a rare case of a very holistic and “meaningful” project, which is much different from typical youth horror films and here it is obvious in which direction the advantage goes.
Whether Guillermo del Toro wanted it or not, his name has long since become a brand. Good and bad at the same time. Because any moviegoer with experience, having seen the opening film credit "Guillermo del Toro Presents" can accurately predict what awaits him for the next hundred minutes.
Of course, the author's handwriting can not be developed by everyone: many creative personalities go to this all their lives and often to no avail, while the eminent Mexican first loudly declared himself in 2001 with the mystical drama "Devil's Ridge", a little flirted with blockbusters (" Blade 2" and "Hellboy"), and then returned to the usual film territory with "Labyrinth of the Faun". It was the phenomenal success of "Favna" that allowed del Toro to produce the tapes of his fellow countrymen in order to help them break into the top film league. Thus appeared "Shelter" Juan Antonio Bayona and "Do not be afraid of the dark" Troy Niksi. Pictures in which a red thread traced the theme of childhood fears, maternal self-sacrifice and some mystical, and sometimes deliberately fabulous, color. On the one hand, del Toro discovered a unique recipe for an exciting movie that can scare and fascinate at the same time. On the other hand, all the interesting techniques and finds that seemed innovative in the Devil’s Ridge and the Labyrinth of the Faun over time turned into a kind of conveyor. And if the same “Shelter” and “Darkness” still somehow could claim originality, primarily due to a well-thought-out plot and the final twist, not devoid of logic, then “Mama” Andres Muschietti was frankly unlucky.
First of all, because the authors have not been able to decide to the end what kind of film they want to make. For 1.40 screen time, the picture is so clearly moving from side to side that even the most inexperienced viewer will feel a trick. In addition, Muschetti for some reason did not think at all about the clarity of the story he tells. In the course of the plot, there are so many questions to which you want to get more less intelligible answers that the long (albeit beautiful) ending is perceived as nothing more than a helpless attempt by the authors to close all possible scenario gaps. Perhaps it is difficult to find an example when in one film the prologue, flashbacks and final frames would look so helpless and strained. Again, Muschietti knows how to “do beautifully”, but in order to make a really interesting and memorable film, this is not enough.
Despite the outcries of disappointment heard from rather fastidious connoisseurs of cinema, I, with some skepticism, but still hope in my soul, decided to see this picture and did not regret it.
I have long noticed that the Spaniards (Argentinians) know how to make horror movies. Not cheap with dismemberment and disgusting monsters, but the horrors that come from the depths of human consciousness, human mistakes that are worse than rebellious zombies.
“Mama” may seem a bit banal from the description, but in fact it is to some extent even a masterpiece. Stories about the ghosts of children who during life did not receive proper maternal care - a lot, but the ghosts of failed mothers - something I do not remember. The idea of the director is truly wonderful, and the performance is also not bad as for a debutante.
Very pleased with the game and the type of actors. They looked very organic, especially the girls. Also interested in metamorphosis in the image of Annabelle, who from a harsh rocker turned into a caring mother. The music is also very well selected, which is important for a horror film. There is only one claim to the plot - a slight clumsiness at the beginning of the film, which, in my opinion, did not allow “Mama” to reach the hard ten.
Conclusion: the film is worth watching, perhaps even repeatedly.
9 out of 10
Perhaps what attracted to this film is the name of a famous producer. Of course, when you watch this film, you feel his handwriting: he is permeated through some ephemeral melancholy and a feeling of inescapable hopelessness rolling like waves.
The plot itself is original. I've never seen a movie where children adapt after a wild environment. But here is what is revealed from the very beginning intrigue - for this film a big minus. I understand that in our time it is difficult to surprise, but to reveal all the cards ... why?
And a lot of inconsistencies. The beginning of the film is so far-fetched: I somehow didn’t believe this whole mess. Simple: stamp by stamp.
I think horror movies are meant to be watched alone at night. To make it scary to get in. Take, for example, the recently released film “Gloomy Skies” – that’s where it’s scary. And it seems to me that in good horror movies there should be some limit in special effects, but here, sorry for the spoiler, a flying mother appears every 5 minutes, so much so that you get used to her.
There are two strong things in this movie:
1. Little girls' game. I believed them.
2. Music literally pulls all the horrors by the ears. If it weren't for her, it's just some kind of failed tale.
In the end, the film is one time with a good idea that the wrong hands fulfilled.
Guillermo del Toro mostly tirelessly pleases with his work, especially with regard to various horrors - or rather call them "frightening fairy tales" - Don't be afraid of the dark, Shelter and Labyrinth of the Faun. Yes, Mom is not his project, but the influence of this gentleman is felt throughout the tape.
The plot is not in a hurry to show itself to the people, at first it is not particularly clear what is going on and why, but then the pieces gradually line up (although the couple was clearly lost somewhere along the way) in the whole picture. But the story would not have turned out so atmospheric without the corresponding implementation of the director’s plan, and here it was already impossible to do without the right actors – this stage was definitely successful. It seems that the girls really lived somewhere in the woods, so they look like wild animals, especially little Lily, which, of course, was dictated by the script, but this in no way detracts from her merits.
However, it was not without blunders / illogical actions. A dog picking up a trail after such a long period. An obsessed aunt breaking into the house. A patient who escapes into the woods from a hospital looking for something unknown. All these annoying oversights slightly overshadow the gloss of the resulting movie, not allowing it to shine in full force.
As a result, we have a very good film with an immediately recognizable style, which lacked a little to the title of excellent. By the way, he is not so creepy, so excuses about his “fear” are not accepted.
The house creaks at night. He lives by his own laws.
At home, the cat purrs on the stove...
The one who comes here is marked with graceful rest,
Unaccustomed love borrowed from the past.
(c) Lorelina
A strange period of life is childhood. There is a monster hiding under the bed, a ghost lurking in the closet. There is no skill not to believe in fairy tales. It usually comes from a long series of disappointments. There are no and never have been miracles in this world. Yes, we've learned to understand that. Do you want to believe that?
A small house in the middle of a forest. Two girls sit on the floor near a burning fireplace, eat cherries, and look into the darkness. And there, from the depths of the dark corner, the sounds of a lullaby are heard. Every night. Year after year. Day by day.
The past of cinema is still remembered by those who managed to catch it. Horror with rubber dolls. Blood in the form of tomato juice. But cinema has grown, giving us a different side of old stories. Always the same. Unrecognizable every time. This is the story of a mother who lost a child. The mother of the child who killed her. About a mother doomed to wander around the world, hiding in the shade from the moonlight.
They don't have children. They're not ready. Poor artist and guitarist of a rock band. But the aching feeling inside does not give the painter & #39; to live calmly. Somewhere in the world his nieces hid. Are they alive? He doesn't know. All he knows is that he needs to find them. And luck, for a moment, depicting a good-natured smile on his face, again turns his back. The other side of fortune. How scary is her face when she doesn’t want to look at her dolls?
Guillermo Del Toro, enlisting the support of an unknown Spanish director, is already once again trying to revive in the audience (or in himself) long buried childhood fears. The magic of horror, stored somewhere in the nooks of consciousness. And it should be noted that at least in part, he succeeds. Fear returns with the words lullaby, and light weightless steps of the ghost. But the fear here is minimal. There, from the ruins of the labyrinth, cherished by the Minotaur, rises something inspired, a light breeze of memories - the magic of childhood, buried under the stones of reality. Although the emphasis is not only on the resurrection of fabulous evil. The formation of the relationship of a woman who is not capable of caring for anyone, with children who, almost literally, fell on her from the sky, a thin thread weaves an uneven storyline, leading the heroine along the path of finding love for children who so suddenly appeared in her life. And the fear of rustling in the void, before the ghost relentlessly following the children, only strengthens the awareness of one single fact - girls need care, protection and most of all in the love and warmth of parental hearts.
Could the ghost be wrong? Is it possible to make the wrong choice after death? Is it possible, holding death by the cold hand, to take other people's children for something dear? Or was the choice conscious? Perhaps, even having lost the beating of a restless heart, she was looking for those whom she could take care of?
Mistake. Even Del Toro can afford them. Maybe even inclined. Script irregularities, director mistakes. These are the little things that can spoil the impression of the film, the easy feeling that remains after watching. But in this case, I don’t even want to notice it. Feel, see. I want to believe that there, on the screen, from under the children's bed slowly moves, albeit already dead, but still caring hand of the creature, whose name, acquired after death, children do not tire of repeating. Mom.
There is no way in the world that children are lost.
The theme of love between mother and child has always been very appealing to horror filmmakers. However, most often we are shown the restless souls of tragically lost children, looking for a motherly affection, which they were deprived of in life. The situation is reversed here. In the picture with the telling title “Mother” we see how the spirit of a young woman, who did not find shelter in the afterlife, stretches out his tentacles to two absolutely alive and healthy girls. Saving them from certain death, the ghost for several years brings up little girls like their own daughters. The bond between the children and their savior is growing stronger every day, and now they are already calling this monster “Mother”. And they would live so happily ever after, but the idyll was destined to be destroyed. People find girls and try to adapt to normal life. But will a mother be able to watch her children taken away? This is where the most interesting things begin.
Andres Muschietti's film, produced by Guillermo Del Toro, is flawless as a representative of its genre. In general, the picture looks quite easy and in one breath. Gloomy tones, appropriate special effects, all play to maintain a tense atmosphere that envelopes the viewer from head to toe. But this is not a template horror, designed only to scare. After all, a real drama unfolds on the screen, which, if you remove the entire supernatural component, often happens in real life. There are frightening and funny and touching moments. The final scene deserves some praise. Bright, beautiful, memorable, it puts a bold point in the entire previous narrative, and you understand that from the very beginning it was the only possible outcome of what happened.
In conclusion, I want to note the undoubted dignity of the film acting work of two girls who played the same savages, brought up by a guest from the other world. More realism is not to be desired.
As a director, Guillermo del Toro created many great films, but his method of directing always does not cross a certain fine line and does not turn his creations into horrors. Of course, the director’s most famous film, The Labyrinth of the Faun, left a double sensation, but still del Toro never delves into the horrors entirely. On the other hand, when del Toro acts as a producer, you should expect a really interesting and scary plot from the films. Recall the “Shelter” and of course “Don’t be afraid of the dark” these films differ from the standard horror films with an unprecedented atmosphere and of course very entertaining endings. The same can be said about del Toro's latest project "Mama" - a very high-quality and rather terrible horror film.
What is most interesting about “Mom” is that the creators do not lead the viewer by the nose, do not scare with creaks and sounds, etc., and immediately bring the evil mother to the screen. Moreover, all mysteries and mysteries are revealed gradually, slowly, and not as always at the end at the last minute. Moreover, the atmosphere of this film so clearly reflects the fears of the characters that the viewer will definitely be afraid.
Of course, the film is not without some shortcomings, but it is more a problem of the genre as a whole than one film. Since at present, when every month there are dozens of horror films that do not scare, but rather mix, it is very difficult to find a film that will differ at least some originality. In turn, “Mama” is a pretty high-quality horror film, which is definitely worth it, will waste time.
Recently, horror movies do not cause any horrors in me at all, in fact for this reason I did not want to watch “mama”, but I was persuaded.
To be honest, it was a waste of time for me. The film is not thought out and the details that need to be disclosed are not disclosed. First, the line with the father and their real mother, what exactly happened, where then went what was left of him, was not disclosed. Absolutely not disclosed the history of the “mother”, those few fragments that were shown no at all ... and many, many more things are not disclosed! Why did all the heroes come to this forest at night? Walls? Why this hut? she had nothing to do with it!
I may have been skeptical in advance, but I never even flinched. I did not feel sorry for these children, nor their guardians, nor their real parents, nor “mother,” nor the doctor. In short, I remained completely indifferent to this story. However, I watched the film to the end, I did not find any crazy ideas in it.
6 out of 10
In the first half of the film, there are a few moments to shudder from, these moments are associated with signs of activity “mother” in the house. But gradually the tension and intrigue that arose at the beginning of the film fade, the plot develops absolutely predictable and banal. The viewer has already seen hundreds of times a psychiatrist who is looking for a solution to the mystery of the appearance of a ghost, and creepy children’s drawings, and an ominous cliff from which someone jumps, and ghosts who take the main characters for their relatives, and the discovery of old documents that “shed light” on the story. These are already such worn-out clichés of thriller plots that it is even awkward for the screenwriter, who in general managed to implement a promising idea so banal and stereotyped, absolutely nothing of his own. In addition, from the second half of the film, when the ghost begins to walk freely in the frame, it turns out that he is not so terrible, just he has a very crooked face, then you get so used to him that he is somewhat bored, so all events are stencil and predictable.
American thrillers of this kind at least try to keep the attention of elements of detective investigation and unexpected plot twists. Here, the authors of the film decided to focus on the psychology of the main character: she goes a certain way of establishing emotional interpersonal relationships with girls and imbues herself with sympathy for the ghost, discovering the maternal principle itself. But this kind of mixing of genres may not appeal to all fans of thrillers.
Visually, the film is made quite well, it feels like Del Toro had a hand in it. But in general, this is an absolutely secondary product with underdeveloped storylines (the story of “mother”, the death of the girls’ family, the undisclosed cardboard characters of “aunt” and a psychiatrist), sluggish and predictable intrigue and motives, places and circumstances borrowed from well-known thrillers.
Everything that the brilliant Guillermo Del Toro puts his hand to, I am interested. At least to a certain extent. This does not mean that the film produced by him is as impressive as his own, entirely author's products, but it definitely deserves acquaintance. Although, let’s be frank, in the end, it is estimated at least as controversial: “Do not be afraid of the dark”, “Shelter”.
The new release of “Mother” is curious in the part that clearly shows the symptoms of desocialization, dissociative personality disorder, paranoid schizophrenia and obsession. And it is not original at all where the “horror” was conceived, although a number of episodes made me shudder.
I am convinced that there is every reason to believe that some works of art in its various types and genres arise due to the outlier, sublimation, or even a sincere desire on the part of the author to show a number of mental movements and states that are usually attributed to abnormal and disturbed: insight, phobias, delusions, neuroses and psychoses.
In "Mother" palette of mental deviations pleases the viewer with variety. But the most remarkable is not even the demonstration of recognizable symptoms of more or less common pathologies, but hints at fears and repressions, which are not customary to talk about because of their well-known culture of irrelevance. It was they who amused me in the picture more than anything else. Okay.
It is hardly necessary to deny that sometimes the most severe and inextinguishable neuroses we receive from parents - at birth, in infancy and in deep childhood. The people who brought us into the world, the givers of the most significant benefits, act at the same time as a threat to the future personality of the child, first traumatizing it, intentionally or accidentally. Childbirth and early injuries are an unavoidable cost for the entrance ticket to life. Another thing is that they can be within the norm or beyond them, leading to various consequences: repressed, obsolete, irreversible and destructive. Thus, the figure of the mother can become and remain not only a source of pleasure and peace for the child, but also powerful phobias, neuroses, triggering the mechanics of obsession, especially in a situation of conflict with the father (and vice versa).
Expressively and at the same time very delicately shown ambivalent experience of an adult, a woman, in relation to other people's children: at the same time the desire to appropriate them to themselves, bypassing the birth pain, fear of foreign blood and distrust of it, up to rejection.
And, of course, the Mowgli children. Adaptation and maturation in the zoomorphic type, delayed development with impaired social ties and unformed skills, miracles of compensatory function, riot of the subconscious ... Everything is so lively and believable. In short, you can talk for a long time and sincerely admire some moments, but it is better to watch.
The absurd ending can be attributed to a metaphor, an artistic paraphrase that leads the viewer to morality: if some values imposed on the individual by society and culture are false from the standpoint of nature and distasteful to it, it will give them a rebuff at the cost of mental deformations: a person with such injuries simply flies off the track of socially articulated norms.
And in fact, the film could take place as a horror, if you throw out telekinesis, infernalism and the entire line of “mother” ghost, and tie everything to the pathogenic behavior of children and the drama of foster parents.
I think I was a little late with this review. The premiere of “Mama” was a month and a half ago, I watched on the first day, because I was waiting very much, but I did not have time to make a review later. And I really want to share my opinion, because the film was impressive (a week before I got to the relatively new Sinister, I was also happy, but Mom, in my opinion, clearly surpassed the previous speaker).
In my opinion, the film belongs to a very rare category of horror. There is no monstrous violence, dismemberment and such a meat grinder, but the film is frightening. It is not disgusting, it is frightening. The last time I remember it was 1408, remember how many years have passed. The tension in “Mom” begins almost from the very first minutes and does not let go almost to the very end. Wild girls are beyond praise. In my opinion, it is they, and not even Mama herself, who is the coolest scarecrow in the film. Scenes in which Victoria and Lily are aggressively, in a brutal way, defend, believe without a doubt. They are truly frightened by their believable play, even though they are only children. And the rest, so to speak, the “stuffing” of the film is a spectacle. To be honest, before Mama, I thought that watching horror in the cinema was a waste of time, because in a crowd of people you can not experience true tension. And I was wrong. Because from the very first tense minutes, even the most ardent chatterers stopped laughing and those who go to any movie, excuse me, “beat.” Perhaps, a more or less decent audience was picked up, but Mama brilliantly managed to convey an atmosphere of tension to the hall and keep the spectators’ nerves strained until the very end. A good friend of mine, who without fear wanders around at night in the most dangerous areas of the city, part of the scenes looked through his fingers in the most literal sense of the word, and after the session screamed that I would never drag him to horrors again. I think it's a good result for a horror movie.
Someone scolds "Mom" for some, let's say, "borrowing." Well, it wasn't without them. One of the most memorable scenes I remember is when Anabel stands in the nursery and thinks Lily is sitting in the corner of the room, even though both girls in the kitchen are clearly rebuilt scenes from the old thriller The Others (remember, with a wedding dress?). And the appearance of Mom is not the fruit of the imagination of designers, but rather a kind of Japanese cocktail from “The Call” and “The Curse”, although I must say that this cocktail was successful. Yeah, something borrowed. Yes, certain scenes were shot, it seems, influenced by other films. But at the same time, "Mama" brought something new, something that was not before. Plus, the film did its main job. What is the main purpose of horror? That's right, scare me. “Mama,” I think, was quite successful.
I can't help but say that the "heavy hand" Del Torro can be felt here. In the gloomy atmosphere of the whole film, in an extraordinary and piercing ending, in posing problematic questions, which is generally rare for such a genre. I noticed in some reviews reservations about metaphors about the world of the dead and the living, wild and civilized, about the choice that everyone ultimately makes of his or her own will. Well, I can’t agree more, but I won’t discuss these ideas here, as they will be spoilers for those who haven’t seen them yet. Don’t miss this movie if you like the horror genre. Only, fans of bloody dismemberment and “torture porn” there is clearly nothing to do, I know a couple of such, they spit from “Mother”. That's not what you can do.
“I liked the movie, so it’s good” or “I didn’t like it, so it’s bad.” As a rule, the essence of most reviews is reduced to such reasoning and conclusions. It is very common for us to ascribe to certain films qualities that we believe they have or do not have. And, of course, if we like this or that creation, it is worthy, and here is another, alas. But there are many opinions, and the truth does not change. How to understand and determine the quality of a movie? The answer is simple: you need to evaluate it impartially and objectively. This means that if you want to write a review of a recent movie, please stop playing children’s “love or dislike”. Look at things differently: analyze the components and evaluate each, this approach can already be called objective.
And today on the cutting table lies nothing more than the Spanish-Canadian creation “Mama”, a hand in the creation of which was put by Guillermo del Toro. The film belongs to three genres: horror, fantasy, thriller, which means that it should scare, intrigue, tickle nerves and at the same time be a little fabulous. Not an easy task for the filmmakers, but in general, running ahead, they coped with it.
Here we go. To begin with, good, quality horrors are rarely seen. And even if they are shown, most of the ideas in them are not new. The last breath of freshness in this genre, in my humble opinion, brought “The Call”, which was very interesting to watch, but he did not succeed in scaring me... Then there was a very good "Sinister", which our film distributors did not try to translate to a more digestible for us "Evil" (by the way, this is a direct translation), from which a large number of viewers did not dare to see it in the cinema because of the incomprehensible name. But he was already able to scare him well, but here was the novelty in him - a little. And now the movie “Mother” has come out, which can scare, and the tension keeps high, and puts the problem of “Fathers and Children” at the forefront. Mothers and children, sorry. I don’t remember a similar theme in the horror genre, so I can say that the film has a certain value for this genre. There are a lot of scary moments in it.
As a thriller, the film also holds the bar, although there are enough worthy representatives in this genre. You worry about the heroes, the intrigue twists to the very end, the atmosphere of mystery is present. The result is again quite a passing film and in this role.
But for fantasy, perhaps the film is gloomy and heavy. However, in this genre, we are used to a little different emotions. Although, closer to the finale, “Mama” steps into the territory of this genre, but not so much as to later be called fantasy. So in this particular perspective, the film did not succeed.
Otherwise, the level of the eminent del Toro is maintained: directing, staging, acting is convincing. The maestro does not have to be ashamed and justify. Although not brilliant, but very, very... The music is just as good and supports the overall slightly magical and strange, but therefore very peculiar atmosphere.
As a result: the film is unusual enough for horror, very strong as a thriller, as fantasy is not quite complete. But at the same time shot beautifully, with taste and style. Fans of fresh ideas in a frightening genre should get acquainted. I don't think you'll regret it.