310. Ma; movie review

MA
Cert 15
99 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong violence, sexual abuse, threat, sex, drug use, very strong language

Octavia Spencer is great and the premise of Tate Taylor's Ma should have made it a winner but, after 99 minutes, Mrs W and I were trying to work out why it had not hit the mark.
Spencer plays Ma, aka Sue Ann, a lonely woman who keeps to herself in a quiet Ohio town. 
She sees an opportunity for company when a local teenage girl, Maggie (Diana Silvers),  asks her to buy some booze for her group of friends.
She helps them out and then sets up her basement as party central for 16-year-olds.
They just have to follow a few simple house rules: Someone has to stay sober. Don't curse. Never go upstairs. And call her "Ma."
Meanwhile, Sue Ann's past as a bullied schoolgirl comes to the fore as a partial explanation for her steadily more erratic actions.
Juliette Lewis plays the part of Maggie's single mum who begins to be concerned that her previous perfectly behaved daughter is out until late at night.
Nevertheless, she seems to have been appeased when it becomes clear that Maggie has her first crush (Corey Fogelmanis).
The problem is that Ma is still luring youngsters and the more she inveigles herself in their crowd, the more it becomes clear that she has an ulterior motive.
Apparently, Ma was made by those behind the brilliant horror Get Out and it appears to have the same aspirations to shock.
Unfortunately, it fails because, unlike Get Out, it is way too predictable.
Yes, in its very early stages I did jump a couple of times, but, as the film progressed, the more obvious it becomes.
During Get Out I gasped or even uttered "wow" several times - Ma just didn't inspire the same emotions and that is a shame for Spencer who really tries her best to make it work.
PS What was Allison Janney's cameo all about?

Reasons to watch: Octavia Spencer. Full stop
Reasons to avoid: Disappointingly predictable

Laughs: None
Jumps: Two
Vomit: None
Nudity: Yes
Overall rating: 5.5/10

Did you know? Octavia Spencer was one of seven children, and she grew up in Montgomery, Alabama. She had an interest in acting from childhood, but she considered it to be an impractical career choice. 

Final word. Tate Taylor: "I know the real Octavia, and her idea of relaxation is staying in bed all day and watching what she calls ‘Murder TV.’ She loves all the forensic shows, the serial killer biographies, she loves it. And she loves crazy people.” Bloody Disgusting

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