Mama

Mama (2013)

Summary

Mama is a supernatural horror film about two young sisters, Victoria and Lily, who are abandoned in a remote cabin in the woods for five years and are miraculously found alive, having been "cared for" by a malevolent supernatural entity they call "Mama." When their uncle and his reluctant girlfriend take them in, the girls bring "Mama" with them, leading to a terrifying struggle between the human foster parent and the jealous, possessive ghost for the girls' affection.

Plot

The film opens in 2008 when distraught stockbroker Jeffrey Desange murders his business partners and estranged wife, then kidnaps his young daughters, Victoria (3) and Lily (1). He crashes his car on a snowy road and takes the girls to an isolated, abandoned cabin with the intention of killing them and himself. Before he can, he is violently killed by a mysterious, shadowy figure.

Five years later, the girls, now aged 8 and 6, are found alive but feral, having regressed to animalistic behavior. They are discovered by their paternal uncle, Lucas Desange (Jeffrey's identical twin brother), who has sponsored a search for them.

The girls are placed in the care of child psychiatrist Dr. Gerald Dreyfuss and, in exchange for study access, are released into the custody of Lucas and his punk-rock musician girlfriend, Annabel (Jessica Chastain), at a secluded suburban house. Annabel is initially cold and resentful of the sudden maternal responsibility.

As the girls acclimate, they talk about their ghostly protector, "Mama." Victoria slowly re-socializes and becomes attached to Annabel, while Lily remains feral and devoted to Mama. The ghost, a tall, spindly figure, follows the children, exhibiting intense jealousy and violently attacking anyone who threatens her "children," including Lucas, who is hospitalized early in the film.

Annabel and Dr. Dreyfuss uncover Mama's backstory: she is the ghost of Edith Brennan, a woman from the 1800s whose baby was taken from her and given to nuns. She escaped from an asylum, recovered her baby, and fled to a cliff edge. As she leaped, the baby's body snagged on a branch and fell short of the water, leaving Mama to drown without her child. Her tormented spirit searched the woods until she found Victoria and Lily, making them her surrogates.

In the climax, Annabel finds the preserved remains of Mama's real baby. She rushes to the cliff where Mama is preparing to take Victoria and Lily into the spirit world forever. Annabel offers Mama the remains of her child. Mama briefly reverts to her human form, embraces the baby, and appears to be at peace. However, when Lily calls out to her, Mama reverts to her monstrous, possessive form. Victoria, having chosen Annabel, is saved, but Lily, completely devoted to the ghost, embraces Mama. The two plunge from the cliff, with Mama and Lily briefly turning into a shower of moths, suggesting Lily has now become a spirit with her. Annabel and Lucas embrace Victoria, whose hand a single moth lands upon, suggesting Lily remains near in spirit.

Cast

• Jessica Chastain as Annabel

• Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Lucas Desange / Jeffrey Desange

• Megan Charpentier as Victoria Desange (8-year-old)

• Isabelle Nélisse as Lily Desange (6-year-old)

• Daniel Kash as Dr. Gerald Dreyfuss

• Javier Botet as Mama (physical performance)

• Melina Matthews as Mama (voice)

Crew

• Director: Andy Muschietti

• Screenplay by: Neil Cross, Andy Muschietti, and Barbara Muschietti

• Producers: J. Miles Dale, Barbara Muschietti

• Executive Producer: Guillermo del Toro

Release Date

January 18, 2013 (United States)