Weekend Movie Review: Ma

SPOILER ALERT!

I watched “Ma” on Tubi last weekend. It’s hard to describe this film as good or enjoyable because of the sad and gory subject matter. I will say the movie is intriguing and interesting to watch. Ma is the title character of the film played by Octavia Spencer. Ma is the nickname given to Sue Ann by teenagers she befriended after meeting them in a gas station parking lot. Sue Ann bought alcohol for the teens and later let them use her basement for parties. Ma was a maternal term of endearment for their cool older friend.

Ma’s hospitality had an ulterior motive. Sue Ann was jealous of the social and romantic lives of the teenagers. Ma enjoyed feeling included in the teen aged parties. She had arrested development and was seeking revenge for the cruel treatment she received as a teenager in the same town. Some of the teenagers Sue Ann hosted were the children of her child hood tormenters.

Ma was a sympathetic character and a major creep at the same time. Sue Ann was also a mother with munchausen by proxy. I’m guessing Clauddine Blanchard was the inspiration for that aspect of her character. She treated her daughter like she was disabled and nothing was wrong with her.

Ma sexually assaulted a teen aged boy and called it a prank. Sue Ann would have taken it much further if she could have gotten away with it. She was attracted to the boy. Ma had a crush on the boy’s father when they were in high school together. He cruelly rejected Sue Ann Carrie at the prom style. She never got over it.

Octavia Spencer is always great and this film is no exception. She’s one of the great actresses of our time. Octavia’s depiction of Sue Ann carries the film. Without her this film may have been unwatchable out or creepiness, gore or sadness. Juliette Lewis was also in this film and did a great job as the mother of one of the teen aged party goers. If you like psychological thrillers you may enjoy “Ma”.