Mama

(Andy Muschietti/2013/Spain & USA)

A modern ghost story with tit bits from a host of horror flicks that have gone before but is an impressively atmospheric tale of its own. The main influence is the Ringu movies but it is fun trying to spot all the others, if you can draw breathe between the rollercoaster ride of old school scares in Mama that is. Once the story is set and things get going it doesn’t let up and for all its effects and spookiness it is just an old fashioned jump cut BOO! movie. Besides being derivative another major flaw for me was the ending which ditches a traditional resolution of the ghost coming to peace for a bizarre trade off in character’s, sacrificing one over another.

(2.5/5)