Parents' Guide to

Mama

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Uneven movie has very scary scenes, some involving children.

Movie PG-13 2013 100 minutes
Mama Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 13+

Based on 15 parent reviews

bandyamama
bandyamama Adult
April 10, 2021
age 15+
the story of the movie is different compare to other horror movies the storyline is really great all the cast has done fabulous acting the climax is what makes the story different from other horror movies the character mama even by been a ghost has given positive impact

This title has:

Great messages
Zucc N.
Zucc N. Adult
May 2, 2018
age 12+

A good movie, it really all depends on the person.

This movie is a great movie. It features a perfect balance of jumpscares and suspense. Personally, I would reccomend it for 12+ but it all depends on what your child / you are afraid of. It is a terrifying movie if disfigurement makes you squirmish. However, if you are prone to that, it will not be as scare (disfigurement is the main scare component). BE WARNED: this movie features some creepy and frightening disfugurement that could give a child nightmares for a while.

This title has:

Great role models
See all 15 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Black-haired, raccoon-eyed rock 'n' roller Annabel (Jessica Chastain) lets out a happy "whoop" when she discovers that she's not pregnant. But her boyfriend, Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), is an artist who's spent five years searching for his missing brother and two nieces. And when the nieces -- Victoria (Megan Charpentier) and her younger sister, Lily (Isabelle Nelisse) -- are suddenly discovered alive in a cabin in the woods, Annabel and Lucas find that, ready or not, they're now parents. Unfortunately, a creepy ghost known only as "Mama" -- complete with silvery hair, crooked features, and bent limbs -- has been looking after the girls and has no intention of letting them go. Can Annabel discover the ghost's secret before "Mama" gets really mad?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (15):
Kids say (72):

Mama seems to be more about special effects and solving mysteries than about truly exploring fertile -- and spooky -- territory. Producer Guillermo Del Toro's name in the credits may bring up memories of powerfully scary movies about lost girls (Pan's Labyrinth), but MAMA was directed and co-written by Andy Muschietti, a newcomer who adapted his own short film to feature length. Clearly Muschietti has some interesting themes to explore, such as the fact that motherhood is scary and powerful, and he has created two fascinating polar opposites in Annabel and the ghost of "Mama."

Unfortunately, rather than expanding and deepening these themes, the filmmakers fill in the blanks with a bunch of shop-worn old horror routines. Characters can't stop making silly choices, such as visiting the creepy cabin in the woods at night rather than during the day. And a sinister aunt who wishes to take the girls away could have been a much more satisfying addition.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Mama's violence. Do horror movies have to be gory to be scary? How did the movie's spooky scenes affect you?

  • What makes Mama scarier -- or less scary -- than other horror movies? How much spooky stuff does it show, and how much is hidden?

  • Do you think the children in the movie appreciate or understand the lengths to which the two "mother" characters care for them and love them? What messages is the movie sending about parenthood?

  • How does Annabel come to appreciate the role of motherhood? What is she like before that?

Movie Details

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