Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- ominous
- empathetic
- disturbing
- horror movie night
- late night viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found Octavia Spencer's performance compelling and empathetic, but considered the pacing uneven and the revenge story underdeveloped.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Sue Ann invites teenagers to party at her home, turning a seemingly generous refuge into a site of control and danger.
Sue Ann's behavior toward the teenagers is connected to old wounds and a desire to punish those associated with them.
Critical reception specifically notes the story's descent into full bloody camp as the violence intensifies.
The teenagers initially interpret Sue Ann as an unusually permissive host before her intentions and dangerous behavior become clearer.
Films like Ma, and why
Misery
psychological horror centered on a socially isolated adult whose apparent kindness conceals menace
Carrie
revenge-driven horror, escalating captivity, and a central villain performance carrying an uneven thriller
Prom Night
teen-centered slasher tension involving dangerous adult manipulation and increasingly brutal retaliation
Movie Details
- Director
- Tate Taylor
- Release Date
- 2019-05-29
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (2518)
Cast
- Octavia Spencer
- Juliette Lewis
- Diana Silvers
- McKaley Miller
- Corey Fogelmanis
- Luke Evans
- Gianni Paolo
- Dante Brown
- Tate Taylor
- Missi Pyle
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Ma about?
- A lonely woman’s invitation to teenage parties becomes a vicious cycle of manipulation, buried humiliation, and revenge.
- What is Ma like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Ma as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Ma violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Ma as graphic.
- What did critics think of Ma?
- Critics broadly found Octavia Spencer's performance compelling and empathetic, but considered the pacing uneven and the revenge story underdeveloped.
- Which films are like Ma?
- Films with a similar feel include Misery, Carrie, and Prom Night.
- How long is Ma?
- Ma runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch Ma?
- In United States, Ma streams on Hulu.
